Apeldoorn's Elite is a Darwin Hybrid tulip that delivers pure spring drama with brilliant red petals rimmed in golden yellow. This perennial bulb grows 18 to 22 inches tall and blooms in mid to late spring, typically 80 to 89 days after fall planting. Hardy across zones 3 through 10 (though treated as an annual in zones 9 and 10), it's a reliable performer in beds and containers, attracting pollinators while adding bold color to the spring garden.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-10
22in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Brilliant red blooms with distinctive yellow edges create a striking two-tone effect that catches the eye from across the garden. The flowers emerge reliably in mid to late spring on sturdy, upright stems that reach 18 to 22 inches without flopping. This hybrid vigor makes it a dependable choice for gardeners seeking a tulip that performs season after season, especially in cooler climates where it truly thrives as a perennial.
Apeldoorn's Elite serves as a vibrant focal point in spring beds and borders, where its bold red and yellow coloring commands attention. The sturdy stems and reliable blooming make it excellent for cut flower arrangements, bringing that springtime energy indoors. Container gardeners particularly value this variety for its compact yet generous flowering habit, whether massed in pots for dramatic effect or mixed with complementary spring bloomers.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Plant bulbs in fall, 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes, pushing each bulb pointy-side-up about 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart. They'll establish roots through fall and winter, then emerge and bloom in spring without transplanting.
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“Apeldoorn's Elite represents the refinement of the Darwin Hybrid class, a breakthrough in tulip breeding that crossed species tulips with Darwin tulips to create larger, stronger plants. The original Apeldoorn variety emerged from Dutch breeding programs and became foundational to modern hybrid tulip development. This 'Elite' selection demonstrates how skilled growers continue to select within established varieties for improved vigor and consistency, keeping classic tulips competitive in contemporary gardens.”