Tulip mania
For me, spring starts with daffodils. They pop up sporadically, like little yellow exclamation points in the garden. I’ll admit it: I struggle with yellow. Every year I put myself through what I like to call “yellow tolerance training.” It’s not really working… but surely I deserve points for effort.
The real magic begins when the tulips arrive. I adore them. Except the yellow ones. No thank you! One of the things I’m most grateful for about my climate is that it’s cold enough for tulips to return year after year in the garden bed. They’re essentially perennials where I live in North Canterbury, New Zealand. Where some might hate the harshness of winter frosts, I’m in gardener heaven knowing my tulips and peonies are loving every minute of it.
That said, I treat tulips in pots differently. After one season in a pot, I move the bulbs into the garden beds and start fresh with new bulbs for my containers. Tulips rarely flower well a second season if left in pots. This way I get the best of both worlds: lush, wow-factor pots every spring, and garden beds that grow richer with tulips each year.
Those in a warmer climate are not quite so lucky when it comes to tulips. Why? Without a proper cold winter, the bulbs don’t store up enough energy for good flowering the next season. You can treat them as annuals, or, if you’re truly committed, dig them up and give them a few weeks in the fridge before planting out in winter (Yes, really. But that’s only for the die-hards!).
Last season’s tulip display. Can’t wait for the new blooms to start. I choose new combos each year for my pots so that I’ve got something new and exciting to look forward to.
I’m now counting down to my tulip show, and one of the joys is planning colour combinations. A quick tip: tulips come in early, mid, and late-season varieties. If you’re after a coordinated display, check the flowering times in catalogues or online. Mixing early and late bloomers in the same pot will just leave you wondering where half your tulips went.
Some favourite combos of mine:
Hot theme – purples, reds, and oranges. I tried this last season with ‘Princess’ double blooms (so many layers of petals!) and it looked spectacular.
Romantic theme – dark red or burgundy paired with white/cream and baby pink. This is my all-time favourite, dreamy and elegant.
Two-tone blooms – great for adding extra interest and depth to your pots and borders.
For pots, ignore the spacing advice. Honestly, pack them in! You can even layer bulbs. Put one layer in, add potting mix, and then tuck another layer above. It makes for an incredible, dense, showy display. Since I shift them into the perennial bed after one season, they’ll get more space later.
And one last tulip tip: don’t cut back the foliage when the flowers finish. The leaves need time to soak up energy for next year’s show. In cold climates, this is essential if you want repeat performances. In warmer areas, if you’re treating them as annuals, just toss them after flowering, but for those of us lucky enough to get perennial tulips, patience with the foliage is key.
So yes, daffodils might test my tolerance for yellow, but tulips never fail to sweep me off my feet. Here’s to another season of spring magic!