Plant of the month - Viridiflora tulips

Coming into flower this month are the Viridiflora Tulips, some of the most elegant spring flowers. “Viridiflora” means green flower and each bulb has a certain degree of green blended into each petal, usually in the form of a stripe in the middle. Often the petals themselves are flared rather like lily flowered tulips, giving a very stylish appearance, which blends well into most settings whether formal, traditional, modern or cottage gardens.

Perhaps my favourite is Spring green which is white, and one of the original viridifloras. As time goes on more varieties have been added as their popularity grows. So now we have Yellow Spring Green, and Flaming Spring Green with a some red strips. Other varieties include Dolls Minuet (magenta red), Violet Bird, Greenland (pink), and many more.

Not only are Viridiflora Tulips popular for their beauty, they also stand tall on strong stems, and are long lasting both in the border and also in the vase. Best of all they are reliably perennial, coming up year after year, without the need to dig up the bulbs and replace them annually - a big bonus as far as I’m concerned.

These Tulips like to be planted pointy side up, about 11cm deep, late in October and November before the colder weather which helps wipe out disease, in an area that gets some sun.