Tulipa Très Chic - Lily flowering Tulip

The 'Très Chic' Tulip has a long and beautifully curved lily flower in April-May, undeniably elegant in bouquets or flower beds. The flower is creamy white when it first blooms, then quickly fades and blossoms into a white star. Perched on short, sturdy stems, the flowers of Très Chic blend in with the colourful mosaic formed by the other lily-flowered tulips, as they all bloom at the same time for several weeks. 'Très Chic' is very long-lasting in a vase and resistant to bad weather. It lives for many years in the garden and faithfully blooms again each year.

Lily-flowered tulips were created in the early 20th century and have kept the robustness and simplicity of their ancestor, the magnificent Tulipa acuminata. This botanical species, originally from Turkey, became extinct in the wild but its red and yellow form survived among English and Dutch enthusiasts. On the frescoes and ceramics of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, one can find all kinds of acuminata tulips, which were adored at the time by the sultans. Whether in bloom or closed, the flower undergoes a surprising metamorphosis, changing from a spider to a lily flower in a day.

The 'Très Chic' lily-flowered tulip belongs to the lily family. Introduced in 1992, it is classified in division 6 of horticultural tulips. The main characteristics of this category are as follows: they bear single flowers and bloom in the second half of spring, the cups are narrow, the pointed petals are recurved at opening and open into an 8 cm (3in) wide star. During the day, these flowers become spider-like and widely open. 'Très Chic' will not exceed 45 cm (18in) high when in bloom. The flowering is like an explosion of white stars in late April or early May. The slightly bluish-green foliage is fairly wide and reaches the base of the corollas. Each solitary flower is supported by a stem which seems delicate, but is very resistant to bad weather.

Rediscover lily-flowered tulips, which have become rare in our gardens. The 'Très Chic' tulip will fit in large flower beds, especially in a white garden. Its neutral and pure shade allows for associations with tulips in various tones such as purple, red, pink, or orange. This also maximizes the duration of flowering in the flower beds. Combine it with hellebores and euphorbias for surprising scenes. It can be planted in borders, rockeries, flower beds, pots and containers. It pairs perfectly with tall perennials and is ideal for creating elegant bouquets. When using it in a vase, use very little water, just a shallow amount is enough! If your tulips open too quickly, you can add two to three ice cubes to the vase each day. Many varieties of fleur-de-lis tulips are grown for forcing to produce cut flowers for a large part of the year.

Our advice: Pair it with muscari.