Double Late Tulip 'Gudoshnik Double' - 20 pieces

With 'Gudoshnik Double' every flower is a surprise. The large, peony-like blooms mix warm tones from butter yellow through coral and raspberry to red. The colour play keeps shifting while it is in flower. A group creates a lively picture, as if many varieties had been mixed.

At about 45–55 cm tall it belongs in the middle of a sunny bed. Because the flowers are heavy, a spot sheltered from the wind is ideal. Blue forget-me-nots, purple grape hyacinths or bronze foliage are good partners. In pots on a sheltered terrace the colour show is especially lovely close up. Plant the 20 bulbs close together so the flowers support one another. A wall or hedge behind keeps off the wind and makes the warm colours glow even more.

In the vase it continues to change colour and is lightly scented. The double flowers are hardly accessible to bees. The first flowering is the most lavish. If you want to enjoy the colour show every year, top up with fresh bulbs in autumn.

Plant the bulbs from September to December, ideally in October and November once the soil has cooled. Set them 10–15 cm deep with the tip pointing up, 10–12 cm apart. Groups of 10 or more look best. Choose a sunny spot with free-draining soil and no waterlogging; loosen heavy soil with sand or grit in the planting hole. In pots the bulbs can sit closer together.

Water in spring if it stays dry for a while. Pinch off faded flowers so the plant does not put its energy into seed, and leave the foliage until it turns yellow. The bulbs can stay in the ground; for a full display every year, add a few new bulbs in autumn or lift them once the leaves have died back and store them dry. A planting basket protects against voles. In winter, keep pots somewhere sheltered from constant wet.