Tulipa Magic Wings - Tulipe Groupe Fleur de Lys

The Lily-Flowered Tulip 'Magic Wings' is a refined spring variety, prized for its elongated, tapered flowers, white with delicate red-purple striations, which bloom into star-like shapes under the April to May sun. Its slender habit, with thin stems reaching around 55 cm, gives it an airy and graceful silhouette. Whether in pots or in the ground, it adds a graphic and sophisticated touch, perfect for accentuating the lines of a flowerbed or bringing rhythm to a naturalistic scene. Just be sure to avoid overly heavy or waterlogged winter soils, which could cause the bulbs to rot.

The Lily-Flowered Tulip 'Magic Wings' belongs to the Liliaceae family, within the Lily-Flowered Tulips group. A horticultural cultivar, its botanical origin traces back to Tulipa gesneriana, used in late-division hybridizations to achieve tapered, wing-shaped petals. This variety stands out for its white flowers striped with fine red-purple veining, offering striking graphic appeal and a slender habit of 55 cm. Its growth rate is considered normal to fast: the plant reaches its full height within weeks of autumn planting. The flowers are long and tapered, opening into stars under the sun from April to May, measuring around 8–10 cm in diameter. The foliage is deciduous, composed of medium-green lanceolate leaves, 15–20 cm long, which fade after flowering. The stem is thin yet sturdy, weather-resistant, supporting the flower gracefully. The root system follows the classic tulip pattern: a globose bulb (around 5–6 cm), with concentric scales and taproots followed by secondary roots. This variety does not produce visible offsets but may form secondary bulblets after several years in situ.

In a scene where plants sketch rather than fill, the 'Magic Wings' tulip becomes a calligraphic flourish, as if brushed onto the soft canvas of spring. Its star-shaped corollas, tapered and streaked with red on white, find their perfect place in a soft border, punctuated by blue-toned muscari, virginal white 'Thalia' daffodils, or the airy lines of petite 'China Pink' tulips. In pots, it pairs well with fine foliage, such as blue fescue or silvery heuchera, creating a subtle contrast between structure and transparency. It lends the scene a light, almost musical dynamism, where every detail matters.