Tulipa Uncle Tom - Double Late Tulip

Tulipa Uncle Tom is a double-flowering tulip with blood-red petals arranged in an open cup shape reminiscent of peonies, hence their often used name of Peony-flowered Tulip. You can pair it with white or pink tulips to create a beautiful harmony. The enormous flowers stand atop 40 cm (16in) tall, sturdy stems, well above the broadly lanceolate leaves. The flowers are all different but share their brilliant blood-red color. It blooms in April-May.

The Uncle Tom Late Double Tulip belongs to the Liliaceae family. Of horticultural origin, it is currently classified in the group of "Late Doubles", whose main characteristics are their enormous flowers with numerous petals resembling peonies and their resistance to bad weather.

Tulips are unmatched for bringing spring colour to pots or sunny gardens. Remember to consider the height and flowering period when designing your flowerbeds, as these can vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is a good idea to plant a few extra bulbs for stunning cut flowers that last a long time in a vase.

Tulip species are found in most of the Old World, from Western Europe to China and Japan, through 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 the Pamir and Hindu Kush mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan.

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