Tulipa 'Parrot Lady'

The 'Parrot Lady' tulip is a hard-to-find variety that will charm fans of chic and baroque flowers. With its fringed and twisted petals in a very bright apricot pink colour, splashed with yellow-orange tones, in a shiny texture that reflects light well, it doesn't go unnoticed in the garden, and its sturdy stems withstand bad weather. Its intensely coloured flowering catches the eye in the borders in April-May. The charm also works in a vase, when it is integrated into a bouquet inspired by the baroque style.

The 'Parrot Lady' Tulip belongs to the Liliaceae family. Originally horticultural, it is currently classified in the group of 'Parrot tulips', whose main characteristic is to have huge flowers with twisted, puffed up, tousled, irregularly fringed petals. 'Parrot Lady' is also obtained by mutation (sudden appearance of new characteristics that are maintained in subsequent generations). It is of medium size (40cm (16in)), carried by a thick and sturdy stem, and its flower is of a beautiful size. It stands out for its ability to reflect light, bringing to life the warm flamed apricot pink colour of its petals under a unique glaze. The original shape of the parrot tulip adds an additional charm, making this flower anything but monotonous, especially when its buds slowly open in a vase, almost ceremoniously. The flowering takes place in April-May, at the heart of the tulip and garden iris season.

Richness of colours, stunning and variegated flowers, usable both in borders and to enhance your bouquets, the reputation of parrot tulips is well established. In the 18th century, they were called 'monstrous'; this group developed a lot in the 1930s, when it was discovered that irradiating bulbs with X-rays caused this mutation. Already, they are among the most planted varieties. Unmatched for bringing fantasy to pots or sunny gardens, don't forget to consider the height and flowering period when designing your borders, as these parameters vary significantly from one cultivar to another. It is wise to plant a few more bulbs for cutting, as they make beautiful cut flowers that last a long time in a vase.