Tulip Drakensteyn

Tulip Drakensteyn belongs to the fringed tulip group. These tulips have classic cup shaped blooms, but the edges of the petals are finely cut to create a textured outline. They flower late in spring and reach around sixteen to eighteen inches tall, with strong stems that hold up well in typical spring weather. The color is a clear pink over a pale base, which makes it easy to combine with white tulips, soft purples, or even deep reds for contrast.  

For American gardeners this variety works beautifully in mixed borders, cottage style plantings, and containers. Plant a tight block of Drakensteyn tulip bulbs for a solid sweep of pink, or thread them through perennials so the frilly blooms pop up between emerging foliage. The sturdy stems and long lasting flowers make it an outstanding cut tulip, and the bright pink blooms are very attractive to early pollinators like bees and even the odd hummingbird in suitable regions. 

Planting and care tips for Tulip Drakensteyn in the USA:  

• Choose a sunny spot with soil that drains well. Tulips dislike sitting in waterlogged ground, especially over winter.  
• Plant in fall when soil has cooled and night temperatures are consistently below about fifty degrees Fahrenheit. In most colder and mid temperate states this will be from late September through November.  
• Set bulbs about six to eight inches deep and four to six inches apart, pointy side up. Planting in groups of at least ten to fifteen bulbs gives the strongest display.  
• In warmer winter climates where ground does not stay cold for long, give the bulbs an artificial chill in the refrigerator for around twelve to sixteen weeks before planting, keeping them away from ripening fruit.  
• After flowering, let the foliage die back naturally so the bulb can store energy. In very warm regions many gardeners treat large flowered tulips as annuals and replant fresh bulbs each fall for a perfect show every year.  

Our Tulip Drakensteyn bulbs are top size and selected from the best growers in the Netherlands, so you get strong stems and full, well formed flowers. Plant them this fall and you will have a late spring display of pink fringed tulips that looks as if it came straight from a Dutch display garden, right in your own yard.