Tulipa Elegant Lady

Tulipa 'Elegant Lady' is an elegant variety that lives up to its name. This majestic lily-flowered tulip features pointed petals that evolve from cream to soft pink. It pairs beautifully with shades of pink and white. The flowers stand atop 45cm (18in) tall stems above the widely lanceolate green and deciduous leaves. It blooms from late April onwards.

Tulipa 'Elegant Lady' belongs to the Liliaceae family. Horticultural in origin, it is currently classified in the 6th division of tulips. They were created in the early 20th century. They are characterised by simple flowers that bloom in the second half of spring and display narrow cup-shaped tepals with pointed and recurved tips upon opening and during the night. They open into a star shape at the end of blooming. During the day, these flowers become spider-like and widely open. The foliage is thinner than that of other tulips. Each solitary flower is supported by a stem that appears delicate, but is weather-resistant. 

They are unmatched for bringing the colours of spring to pots or sunny gardens. When designing your flower beds, you must consider the height and flowering period of the tulips, as these parameters can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is wise to plant a few extra bulbs for bouquets, as they make beautiful long-lasting cut flowers in a vase.

Tulip species are found throughout most of the Old World, from Western Europe to China and Japan, including Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. Their distribution range also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity for the genus is in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan.

There are various wild species, many of which are endangered. These include large adventive tulips from cultivated fields, the most well-known being the Agen tulip (Tulipa agenensis), as well as small tulips found in wooded areas or among rocks in the mountains. In cultivation, they are called "botanical tulips", and one of the most common is the wild tulip (T. sylvestris), which used to often grow sheltered by vines and whose subspecies, australis, is known as the southern tulip.