Tulip, Single Late Hybrids
Announce spring with fanfare with a large planting of Single Late Hybrid tulips. With massive flowers—some of the blossoms are 5 inches tall atop 24-inch-tall stems—in a rainbow of hues, late tulips typically bloom in late April and May. As their name indicates, they are the last to bloom. Count on them to appear after species tulips, parrot tulips, and the majority of daffodils. Because of their long stems, late tulips make great cut flowers. Snip the blossoms just before they fully open and plunge them into a vase of water. They will last for up to two weeks.
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Planting Tulips
Extend your spring show by pairing tulips with early-season bloomers, such as crocus, grape hyacinths, and traditional hyacinths. Plant your favorite daffodils alongside tulips for a petal-packed display. Kick off the tulip display in early spring by planting Emperor tulips, Greigii, and Single and Double Early Tulips. Peony and Parrot tulips also bloom before Single Late Hybrids. With a little bit of planning you can enjoy tulips in the garden and bouquets in the house from mid-spring through late spring.
Tulip Care
Like all tulip bulbs, Single Late Hybrid tulips require well-drained soil and at least 6 hours of bright sunlight per day. Tulips do best in soil that is dry in summer and well-drained in winter. (Wet, boggy soil in winter quickly leads to bulb rot.)
The best time to plant tulips bulbs is midfall or when the nighttime temperatures consistently hover around 40°F. Prepare the planting bed by breaking up any clods as you dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep trench. Place the bulbs 6 inches apart in the bottom of the trench and cover them with loose soil, then water well.
After planting, tulips are relatively low maintenance. Water emerging bulbs if rainfall is limited. Allow foliage to remain until it turns completely yellow to allow it to produce nutrients for next year's flower crop. After foliage fades, cease watering.
More Varieties of Tulip, single late hybrids
Tulipa 'Antoinette' changes color with age. It opens with pale yellow buds, gradually develops pink edges, and eventually turns completely salmon-orange. This changeable quality has earned it the nickname of Chameleon tulip. Each stem typically produces 4-5 scented blossoms in mid- to late spring on stems to 18 inches tall. Zones 3-8
This variety is vivid red-orange. Inside, the petals are tomato red with a yellow base. This single late tulip grows on stems to 30 inches tall. Zones 3-8
Tulipa 'Blushing Lady' combines the warm glow of pink, orange, and yellow in a soft rosy flame of a flower atop stems to 30 inches tall. It is excellent as a cut flower. Zones 3-8
This cultivar appears as if its rosy-fuchsia petals have been air brushed in pastel pink, creating an alluring, dreamlike color for late spring flowerbeds. Its large blooms are borne on sturdy stems to 24 inches tall. Zones 3-8
Tulipa 'Queen of the Night' is one of the darkest purple tulips. The deep maroon flowers are poised on strong stems and look like black goblets. They appear in late spring on plants that grow 2 feet tall. Zones 3-9
This variety is an heirloom variety with irregular feathering and streaks of color in its petals. This strawberry-and-cream color tulip dates back to the 1620s. Zones 3-8