Tulipa 'Merlot'

The lily-flowered Tulip 'Merlot', so aptly named, displays a robe of a rich and deep red that is reminiscent of the famous red grape variety of Bordeaux terroirs. With a corolla wider than that of other lily-flowered tulips, this variety has a lot of character. It remains beautiful for several days, both in the garden and in a bouquet. Perched on short sturdy stems, the flowers of "Merlot" enhance the colourful mosaic formed by the other lily-flowered tulips, as they all bloom at the same time, and for several weeks. This tulip lives for many years in the garden and faithfully blooms every year.

The lily-flowered tulips were created in the early 20th century, they have retained the robustness and simplicity of their ancestor, the magnificent Tulipa acuminata. This botanical species, native to Turkey, became extinct in the wild, but survived, in its red and yellow form, with English and Dutch enthusiasts. On the frescoes and ceramics of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, one can find all kinds of acuminata tulips, already adored by the sultans at the time. The flower, whether open or closed, undergoes a surprising metamorphosis, from spider to lily-flowered, in the space of a day.

The lily-flowered Tulip 'Merlot' belongs to the family of Liliaceae. Introduced in 2008, it is classified in division 6 of horticultural tulips. The main characteristics of this category of tulips are as follows: they have single flowers and bloom in the second half of spring, the cups are narrow, the pointed petals are recurved at opening and open in a star shape. During the day, these flowers become spidery and widely open. This 'Merlot' variety reaches approximately 50cm (20in) in height when in bloom. The flowering takes place in late April or early May. The foliage is quite wide, with a slightly bluish green colour, its height reaches the base of the corollas. It turns yellow and then dries out a few weeks after flowering. Each solitary flower is supported by a stem that appears fragile, but is very resistant to bad weather.

Worth rediscovering, lily-flowered tulips have become rare in our gardens. The 'Merlot' tulip finds its place in large flower beds, and of course in bouquets. Its powerful and pure colour allows for associations with tulips in pastel tones such as white, mauve or soft pink. This also allows for maximizing the duration of flowering in flower beds. Mix it with hellebores and Euphorbias, and you will obtain surprising scenes. It can also be planted in borders, rockeries, flower beds, as well as in pots and containers. It pairs perfectly with tall perennials, and is ideal for creating elegant bouquets. In a vase, use very little water, just a bottom is enough! Moreover, if your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes in the vase every day.

Many varieties of lily-flowered tulips are grown for forcing and produce cut flowers for a large part of the year.

Our advice: Pair it with grape hyacinths, hyacinths, and forget-me-nots.