Have you heard about the tulipomania (tulip madness) which swept Holland in the seventeenth century?
Now there’s a new furor over tulips the Darwin hybrids.
Characterization of Darwin Hybrid Tulips
These are characterized by unusually sturdy stems, long-lasting flowers, and colors that stay vivid through the vicissitudes of April, and early-May weather.
Since the introduction of ‘Dardanelles,’ ‘Holland’s Glory,’ and `Lefeber’s Favorite’ in 1942, there has been a steady stream of new varieties.
Several of these have received the high honor of being International Holland Bulb Selections — `Parade’ in 1959, ‘Apeldoorn’ in 1960, and `Gudoshnik’ in 1961.
Gudoshnik: Tulips’ Amazing Stamina
`Gudoshnik,’ shown on the opposite page, gives proof of these tulips’ amazing stamina, for at the time the photograph was made, my garden had been buffeted by two weeks of gusty, high-velocity winds.
The day of shooting, April 26, turned out to be one of those wild mixtures of wind, burning sun, and stormy showers which occur so often during that season. Out of my entire collection of Darwin hybrids,
`Gudoshnik’ stood brightest and most colorful for a portrait.
Parade: Supreme Fortitude
‘Parade’ was next in supreme fortitude, but all took the weather like troupers. These tulips reach a height of 20” to 24” inches, and, as the flowers age, they open to measure about ten inches in diameter.
12 Different Varieties of Darwin Hybrid Tulips
With 12 different varieties, my new perennial border was filled with flashy, exciting colors during the second, third, and fourth weeks of April, making important that period between the first bulbs of spring and the burst of May flowers.
Presently most Darwin hybrid tulips are red. Some approach orange, others are pure scarlet; all have fabulous brilliance.
These include;
- ‘Holland’s Glory’
- ‘Lefeber’s favorite’
- ‘Dardanelles’
- ‘Apeldoom’
- ‘Diplomat’
- ‘Dr. Philips’
- ‘Dover’
- ‘Franklin D. Roosevelt’
- ‘General Eisenhower’
- ‘London’
- ‘Oxford’
- ‘Parade’
- ‘Red Matador’
Some of these red Darwin hybrids have bright yellow throats.
‘Gudoshnik’ came in 1952, ushering in a new color grouping for the Darwin hybrids. It is carmine striped on yellow. This fall, I want to plant a dozen of the new ‘President Kennedy,’ a golden yellow hybrid that finishes bronzy.
Golden-yellow Darwin hybrids include;
- ‘Golden Splendor’
- ‘Santiago’
- ‘Golden Apeldoorn’
- ‘Golden Gift’
Deep yellows includes;
- ‘City Hall,’
- ‘Garden Pride,’
- ‘Golden Empire,’
- ‘Kingwood Center,’
- ‘Royal Pearl,’
- ‘Solstice’ and
- ‘Sun King.’
‘Jewel of Spring,’ introduced in 1956, has sulfur coloring with red spots.
‘Beauty of Apeldoorn’ is golden inside, flushed magenta and edged yellow outside.
‘Orange Goblet’ is beautiful in planting combinations with the orange-brown and yellow wallflowers (Cheiranthus cheiri).
‘My Lady’ has salmon-orange flowers.
‘Big Chief’ is an old rose on the outside, orange inside.
Darwin Hybrid Tulips: Available By Mail And Local Garden Centers
Darwin hybrid tulips are widely available, both by mail and at local garden centers. Their culture is no different than that of other tulips. They are planted 4”-8” inches deep in October or November in well-drained soil.
Select a site in full sun (at least 6 hours of direct sun in the spring). After the flowers fade, snap off the seed pods before they have a chance to develop.
Allow the foliage to mature and die down naturally before you remove it. It is perfectly all right, however, to interplant annuals, or young chrysanthemum plants which will grow up to hide the withering tulip foliage.
Generous top-dressing of the soil with bone meal or bulb food each spring helps tulips.
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