Tulipa crispa Cuban Night - Fringed Tulip

Tulipa 'Cuban Night' is one of the darkest fringed edge tulip varieties. Its large, satin flowers display an intense violet-purple colour, which appears black in certain lights. Their fringed petals are slightly curved outward, giving them their unusual shape. It blooms in May. The flowers appear at the top of tall stems, which are ideal for bouquets. 

Tulipa 'Cuban Night' belongs to the Liliaceae family. Horticulturally bred and introduced in 2007, it is classified in the 'Crispa' group, whose main characteristic is the finely toothed tips of the petals. This tall tulip has a sturdy 55cm (22in) stem that withstands inclement weather. Flowering takes place in May, at the end of the tulip season. The flowers are single, with a slightly open cup shape when they bloom, opening to reveal shiny petals in a rich violet-purple colour. The colour is lighter in the sun, almost black in the shade. The fringed edges of the petals give the illusion that the flower is sprinkled with sugar, or covered in frost in the middle of May. The flowers last a long time, extending the tulip season.

There are few plants to rival dentate tulips. They are unique and elegant, and are resistant to heat and inclement weather. 'Cuban Night' is ideal with white varieties ('Snow Crystal'), bright pink ('Mascotte'), or soft ('Santander'). It can create beautiful dark spots in perennial beds, accompanied by biennial plants that fill the space after flowering. You can choose wallflowers, forget-me-nots, or dame's rocket for this purpose. Marbled foliage heucheras, like the 'Snow Angel' cultivar, and pink ones like 'Berry Smoothie' highlight the dark colours, as well as white perennial geraniums ('Laura') or blue ones ('Rozanne', 'Johnson Blue', 'Orion'). It can be placed in borders, rockeries, flower beds, pots, and containers. This tulip beautifully enhances balconies and patios. It goes perfectly with pansies or primroses. Dentate tulips bring a unique touch to bouquets.