Tulipa Triumph Red Proud

Tulipa 'Red Proud' is a recent Dutch selection, notable for its late flowering period from April to May. This elegant tulip with a narrow corolla displays petals of a bright and intense scarlet red. The flowers rise at the top of thick and sturdy stems, reaching a height of 60cm (24in) above the widely lanceolate green deciduous leaves.

Tulipa 'Red Proud' belongs to the Liliaceae family. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in the 'Triumph' group, characterised by narrow cup-shaped flowers. They are the result of a cross-breeding between early single tulips and Darwins. Triumph tulips are renowned for their variety of colours, strong and resistant flowers, and suitability for both flower beds and bouquets. They are among the most commonly planted varieties.

They are unmatched for bringing the colours of spring to pots or sunny gardens. This tulip beautifully decorates balconies and patios. 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 extra bulbs for bouquets, as they make superb cut flowers that last a long time 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.