Tulipa 'Sarah Raven'

The 'Sarah Raven' lily-flowered Tulip, with its absolutely sumptuous dark purple colour and perfect shape, is undoubtedly one of the best in its category. Thick in substance, it is particularly long-lasting both in the garden and in a bouquet. 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 and have retained the robustness and simplicity of their ancestor, the magnificent Tulipa acuminata. This botanical species, originally from Turkey, became extinct in the wild but survived, in its red and yellow form, among English and Dutch enthusiasts. The frescoes and ceramics of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul feature various acuminate tulips, already adored by the sultans at the time. The flower, whether open or closed, undergoes a surprising metamorphosis, transforming from a spider to a fleur-de-lis in the span of a day.

The 'Sarah Raven' lily-flowered tulip belongs to the lily family. Introduced in 2019, it is classified in horticultural Division 6 of tulips. The main characteristics of this category of tulips are as follows: they bear single flowers and bloom in the second half of spring, the cups are narrow, the pointed petals are recurved when opening and open into a star shape. Throughout the day, these flowers transform into spider-like forms and fully open. This variety 'Sarah Raven' reaches a height of approximately 45cm (18in) when in bloom. The flowering takes place in late April or early May, and is longer than that of other lily-flowered varieties. The flower colour is a very dark purple, with ebony reflections. The foliage is fairly wide, slightly bluish green, and its height reaches the base of the corollas. It yellows and then dries out a few weeks after flowering. Each solitary flower is supported by a delicate-looking stem, but is highly resistant to inclement weather.

Lily-flowered tulips have become rare in our gardens and are worth rediscovering. The 'Sarah Raven' tulip is suitable for large flower beds and, of course, for bouquets. Its powerful and pure hue allows for combinations with tulips in pastel shades such as white, mauve, or soft pink. This also maximizes the duration of flowering in flower beds. Pair it with hellebores and Euphorbias for stunning scenes. It can also be planted in borders, rockeries, flower beds, as well as in pots and containers. It complements tall perennials perfectly and is ideal for creating elegant bouquets. When using it in a vase, add very little water, just enough to cover the bottom! Additionally, if your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase each day.

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

Our tip: Combine it with grape hyacinths, hyacinths, and forget-me-nots.