Tulipa Darwin hybride Design Impression - Darwin hybrid Tulip

The Darwin Tulip 'Design Impression' combines ornamental qualities. It blooms with very large flowers from the end of April, at the end of long sturdy stems, offering an unforgettable sight when planted in groups in the garden. The corollas have a very bright pink colour, subtly adorned with a discreet central mark in apricot tones. The long-lasting flowering is not the only asset of this variety. The leaves are also decorative, with their fine yellow margin enhancing the bright green lamina.

The hybrid Darwin tulip 'Design Impression' belongs to the Liliaceae family, once 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 the lily and the fritillary. While there are some varieties of botanical tulips in the trade, the majority are horticultural varieties, like 'Design Impression'. There are 15 divisions of tulips, the fourth being that of the Darwin hybrids group, characterized by large single flowers of ovoid shape, appearing in the middle of the season, borne by long weather-resistant stems.

'Design Impression' is a tall variety, typically reaching 55 to 60 cm (22 to 24in) when in flower. The sturdy stems allow it to withstand inclement weather and make for fabulous bouquets. From late April, it produces very large single flowers, composed of 6 tepals (3 petals and 3 sepals of the same morphology, hence the common term). The ovoid corollas can measure up to 15 cm (6in) in diameter when fully open! Their bright pink colour has different nuances, ranging from a tender pink to a candy pink, and the median part of the tepals is traversed by a narrow apricot flame, creating a slight relief effect. This spectacular flowering lasts for 3 to 4 weeks until May, allowing for full enjoyment. The large lanceolate leaves, reaching up to 30 cm (12in) in length, are not bluish green as often seen, but a beautiful bright green, and, a rare characteristic, they also have a finely marginate yellow edge.

Hardy, this variety will find its place in most well-drained soils, in sunny or possibly semi-shaded exposure, and can also be grown in containers.

The 'Design Impression' Tulip is a fairly recent variety, resulting from a mutation of 'Pink Impression', with very original characteristics. It will give you superb bouquets that you can enhance by associating them with the white Lilac 'Madame Lemoine' and some herbaceous peonies. When using as cut flowers, use very little water, just a little at the bottom is enough! Moreover, if your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase every day.

Planted en masse in the garden, it will also create a spectacular scene, more long-lasting than some other cultivars. Consider adding plants with spread-out flowering in your flowerbed, such as Primula vialli, a primrose with a wild orchid-like appearance that will reward you in June-July with its two-tone spikes, light pink at the bottom and red at the top.