Tulipa Rococo - Parrot Tulip

The Double Parrot Tulip 'Rococo' is the first double red parrot tulip cultivar. This new selection, with a red flower and a yellow heart, veined with green and scented, will be a beautiful addition to your garden. With its relatively short stem, this tulip is suitable for both flower beds and potted plants or bouquets.

The 'Rococo' Double Tulip belongs to the Liliaceae family. Originally horticultural, it is currently classified in the group of 'Parrot Tulips', whose main characteristic is the presence of huge flowers with twisted, puffed, ruffled, and irregularly fringed petals. 'Rococo' is also obtained through mutation (the sudden appearance of new characteristics that are maintained in subsequent generations). It is a sturdy plant that will reach a height of 35 cm (14in) when in bloom. Perched on stems well above the broadly lanceolate leaves, the stunning flowers are all different but share the red colour of the variegated petals with yellow veins. Flowering takes place in April-May, in the heart of the tulip season.

Plant the bulbs in autumn, from September to December, at a depth of 15 cm (6in), spacing them 10 cm (4in) apart. Planting should be done in ordinary soil, slightly acidic, neutral, or slightly alkaline, loose, well-worked, and well-draining. Never add manure or poorly decomposed compost to the planting soil, as this could cause the bulbs to rot. The 'Rococo' double tulip will grow well in moist to dry soil. Plant it in a sunny or semi-shaded location. Once flowering is complete, it is advisable to remove the fruit to prevent the plant from becoming exhausted.

With their range of colours, stunning and variegated flowers, suitable for both flower beds and bouquets, parrot tulips are well-known. In the 18th century, they were called 'monstrous'; this group developed greatly in the 1930s, when it was discovered that irradiating bulbs with X-rays caused this mutation. They are already among the most planted varieties. Unmatched for bringing fantasy to pots or sunny gardens, don't forget to consider the height and flowering period when designing your flower beds, as these parameters can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is wise to plant a few extra bulbs for cutting, as they make beautiful long-lasting cut flowers.

About botanical species: Tulip species are found from Western Europe to China and Japan, passing through Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. Their distribution area also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity for the genus is located in the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan.

In Europe, there are various wild species, many of which are endangered. These include either large adventive tulips from cultivated areas, the most well-known being the Agen Tulip (Tulipa agenensis), or 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 (Tulipa sylvestris), which used to often grow sheltered by vines and whose subspecies australis is known as the Southern Tulip.