Tulip ‘Blushing Impression’

Product Details

A true stunner for the spring garden, ‘Blushing Impression’ is an exciting addition to the family of Impression Tulips, which are among the most perennial types. A sibling to longtime favorite Tulip ‘Pink Impression,’ this exciting addition to the family of Impression Tulips borrows some of her sister’s pink but creates unique color blends with tones of yellow when the blossoms are new before taking on sophisticated shades of ochre, mustard and vanilla as the flowers mature. Plant extra for cutting. Early.

Darwin Hybrid Tulips are all single-flowered varieties with long-lasting flowers on strong stems that make them perfect for bedding and for cutting. The brilliant colors of these very popular Tulips show up beautifully in the landscape. Darwins usually give an excellent performance for several years. They are good companions with Daffodils, and force well. Wind and weather resistant.

Tulipa is an enormous genus, consisting of approximately 75 species. Tulips are native to areas including the Middle East and the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. These regions have long cold winters and hot, bone-dry summers, and these are the conditions in which Tulips perennialize (or, in other words, return year after year) most successfully. In North America, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to replicate these climatic conditions, and as a result, we recommend that most Tulips are treated as annuals. Plant the bulbs in fall, enjoy their colorful blossoms in spring, and when the flowers subside, remove the plants, including the bulbs, and compost or discard them. The advantages to this ritual are three-fold: You won’t spend weeks of spring waiting for second- or third-year Tulips that don’t bloom; you won’t spend weeks eyeing yellowing and decaying Tulip foliage in your gardens; and you can look forward to the considerable delight of choosing new varieties, colors, and forms each season to refresh your display.

All that said, there are a few Tulips that are more likely to perennialize than others. Species Tulips, sometimes referred to as “botanical Tulips,” have smaller, somewhat wilder looking flowers than the hybridized goblet forms, but they are more forgiving of milder climates, and they are known to return for two to three years in a favorable site. Long-stemmed, goblet-shaped Darwin hybrids have been bred to offer multi-year performance, and Fosteriana Tulips generally return for up to three years (and sometimes more) under ideal conditions.

Tips for Good Tulip Culture

• In the fall, plant Tulip bulbs in a sunny site with very well-drained soil.
• Plant the bulbs at least 6” deep so they stay insulated through the winter but remain cool as temperatures begin to rise in spring. (Bulbs that are kept cool in spring tend to blossom for a longer period.)
• Treat most Tulips as annuals. Enjoy the flowers in spring, and when they subside, remove the entire plant, including the bulb, and compost or discard.
• Choose Tulip varieties for next spring, and plant them in fall.

For information on Tulip care, click Growing Guide.