Tulipa 'Moneymaker'

The 'Moneymaker' Tulip is an excellent variety of red lily-flowered tulip, which won the Gold Palm of the plant world in England. Its flowers are of a pure and deep crimson red, enhanced by their glossy texture and gracefully curved shape of their petals. Very long-lasting in a vase, carried by a thin but sturdy stem, it is the queen of cut flowers. These lily-flowered tulips bloom late, but faithfully return year after year without degenerating.

Lily-flowered tulips were created in the early 20th century, they have retained the robustness and simplicity of their ancestor, the magnificent Tulipa acuminata. This botanical species, native to Turkey, became extinct in the wild, but survived, in its red and yellow form, among English and Dutch enthusiasts. On the frescoes and ceramics of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, all kinds of acuminated tulips can be found, already adored at the time by the sultans. The flower, depending on whether it is open or closed, undergoes a surprising metamorphosis, changing from a spider to a lily flower in the space of a day.

The 'Moneymaker' tulip, introduced to the Netherlands in 2006, belongs, like all tulips, to the lily family. It is classified in division 6 of horticultural tulips, the main characteristics of this category are as follows: they bear single flowers and bloom in the second half of spring, the cups are narrow and curved, the pointed tepals are recurved at the opening and open in an 8cm (3in) wide star shape. During the day, these flowers become spidery and widely open. This 'Moneymaker' variety will reach approximately 40cm (16in) in height when in bloom. The flowering takes place in late April or early May. The foliage is thinner than that of other tulips. Each solitary flower is supported by a stem that appears fragile but is weather-resistant.

The 'Moneymaker' lily flower shines with incomparable brilliance. It finds its place in large flower beds, planted in small groups with white varieties ('Sapporo'), pink varieties ('Sanne'), bicolour varieties ('Marylin'), and even green varieties ('Virichic'). Since its flowering is quite late, it allows for maximizing the duration of flowering in the flower beds. Pair it with wood hyacinths (Scilla nutans) or with Siberian squills to create a vibrant scene. Or combine it with lady's mantle, Corsican hellebores, and Euphorbias for surprising scenes. It can also be planted in pots and planters to enhance balconies and terraces. It is ideal for creating bold and creative bouquets.

When using it in a vase, use very little water, just a little at the bottom is enough! Furthermore, if your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase every day. Many varieties of lily-flowered tulips are grown for forcing and produce cut flowers for a large part of the year.