Tulipa Keizerskroon - Early simple Tulip

The Early Single Tulip 'Keizerskroon' attracts all the attention in spring with its sparkling two-tone flowering. The cup-shaped flowers that open in the sun mix canary yellow on the edge of the petals and bright red in the centre. They are beautifully highlighted by the dense foliage, subtly bluish green. Of medium height, it can be grown in the garden, in a pot, or in a container on a terrace. Its good vase life and cheerful and colourful appearance also make it a very good candidate for bouquet arrangements.

The 'Keizerskroon' Tulip belongs to the botanical family of Liliaceae, formerly rich in genera that have been reclassified into other families. Today, there are just over 400 species distributed in about ten genera, the most well-known outside the large group of tulips being lilies and fritillaries. Wild tulips are found from Western Europe to China and Japan, passing through Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, and Central Asia. Their range also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent.

Nevertheless, in our gardens, we more frequently find horticultural varieties. The abundance of different tulip forms has led to a classification into 15 divisions. Keizerskroon is thus a representative of the group of Early Single Tulips, which constitutes the 1st division. The tulips in this division produce single cup-shaped flowers less than 8 cm (3in) wide, are relatively short (20 to 40 cm (8 to 16in)), and bloom between late March and early June.

Keizerskroon begins flowering in April and continues into May if the weather is not too hot. The corollas have a rounded, more or less ovoid shape, measuring about 6 cm (2in) in diameter and open in the sun. They are of the single type, consisting of 6 tepals (this term refers to the sepals and petals when they have almost the same morphology). The tepals display a triangular central macula, a bright red, which rises upwards, gradually merging into a similarly vivid yellow. This explosive colour combination is tempered by the foliage, which has a soothing shade, a matte green with a slight blue tint. This variety reaches approximately 35 cm (14in) in height when in bloom, and the long lanceolate leaves rise almost to the base of the corollas. When planted in groups, this tulip forms a dense vegetative mass, enhanced by the exuberance of the two-tone flowers. Growing in full sun or light shade, in most well-drained soils, it can also be cultivated in containers.

This joyful and vibrant tulip will give you stunning bouquets, either alone or combined with other seasonal blooms. Opt for white with plants like the Syringa meyeri 'Flowerfesta White', a dwarf lilac that does not exceed 1.25 m (4ft) in height and will bless your bouquets with a delicious fragrance. In the background of a flower bed, you can also plant a Eucalyptus gunnii, whose bluish foliage will elegantly accompany your tulip flowers in a vase. Peonies are also particularly attractive, with their wide variety of flower shapes and multiple colours, ranging from white to purple, including yellow, pink, salmon, and red. By mixing early and late varieties, you will extend the bouquet season and bring the garden into your home!