Tulipa fosteriana Apricot Emperor

The Tulip fosteriana 'Apricot Emperor is a pastel version of the beautiful 'Orange Emperor', it has the same qualities as its older sister. Its flowers in shades of apricot and soft orange open in particularly wide cups. The reverse of the petals, visible when the flowers are closed, is warmed by golden yellow and a touch of green. Robust and weather-resistant, this variety faithfully returns for several years and blooms early in the season, from mid-March, for several years. It is also a superb cut flower for bouquets.

The Tulipa fosteriana is a hardy botanical species originating from Turkestan. In horticulture, Fosteriana Tulips belong to Division 13 of the 15 divisions of tulips. They are reliable: they are the first garden tulips to bloom, sometimes as early as March 15, and they naturalise easily, so they do not need to be replaced regularly. The 'Apricot Emperor' variety was registered in 2002. This bulbous plant produces strong but flexible floral stems, 35 to 40 cm (14 to 16in) tall, bearing at their tips a large corolla that opens and widens in the sun to reveal its sweet orange shades. When fully open, it measures up to 18 cm (7in) in diameter. The foliage, absent in summer and winter, is a medium green.

Fosteriana tulips are suitable for all uses, in flower beds, borders, and even for taller varieties in bouquets. The orange tones of 'Apricot Emperor' go well with white and blue. Plant it with blue hyacinths, muscaris, or with other orange or white tulips. Unmatched for bringing the colours of spring year after year to pots or sunny gardens, do not forget to consider the height and flowering period when designing your flower beds, 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.

About botanical species: Tulip species can be found from Western Europe to China and Japan, including Eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Central Asia. Their range also includes North Africa and the Indian subcontinent. The centre of diversity for the genus is in the Pamir and Hindukush Mountains and the steppes of Kazakhstan.

In Europe, there are various botanical species, many of which are endangered. These are either large adventive tulips from cultivated fields, the most famous being the Agen tulip (Tulipa agenensis), or small tulips found in wooded areas or among rocks in the mountains. In cultivation, they are called "botanical tulips", and one of the most common is the wild tulip (Tulipa sylvestris), which used to often grow under the protection of vines. Its subspecies australis is known as the southern tulip.