Triumph Tulip 'Alibi' - 20 pieces

CHF 17.90

Triumph Tulip 'Alibi' - 20 pieces

Name: Triumph Tulip 'Alibi' - 20 pieces
Brand: Tulipa
Price: 17.90 CHF
Availability: OutOfStock

Tulip 'Alibi'

CHF 17.90

Rare shade: lavender to lilac pink
Fades to soft pink with a pale heart
Classic cup shape, flowers in April and May
Height 45–55 cm, resistant to wind and rain
20 bulbs, long-lasting in the vase

'Alibi' is a Triumph tulip in a rare shade between lavender and lilac pink. Over time the classic cup-shaped flowers fade to soft pink with a pale heart. Sturdy and compact, it is a fine choice for beds, pots and vases.

About this variety

Lavender tulips are rare, and 'Alibi' shows this shade particularly well. As they open, the flowers look lilac pink with a cool lilac sheen. Over the days they fade to a soft pink, revealing a pale heart inside. The foliage has a slightly bluish tinge that suits the colour well.

At 45–55 cm it belongs in the middle of a bed or border. The sturdy stems withstand wind and rain. With white tulips, silvery foliage or blue grape hyacinths it looks cool and elegant. Pale yellow daffodils also make a lovely contrast. In a pot, grape hyacinths beneath it create a harmonious bulb lasagne.

It lasts well in the vase and suits delicate bouquets in white and lilac. It is of little interest to bees. Like many garden tulips, 'Alibi' flowers best in its first year; with 20 bulbs you can plant a good group and top it up in autumn.

Planting

Plant the bulbs between September and December, ideally in October or November. Set them 10–15 cm deep, tip upwards, 10–12 cm apart, in groups of 10 or more. A sunny spot with free-draining soil is ideal; add grit to the planting hole in heavy soil. Plant more closely in pots.

Care

Water in dry spring weather. Deadhead and leave the foliage until it turns yellow. For full flowering every year, replant or lift the bulbs and store them dry. A planting basket helps against voles. Protect pots from persistent wet in winter.

Specifications

Botanical name: Tulip 'Alibi'
Genus: Tulips
Class: Triumph tulips
Supplied as: Flower bulbs
Flower colour: Purple
Fragrant: No
Flowering time: April, May
Flowering season: Spring, Late spring
Foliage colour: Mid-green
Height: 50 cm
Spread: 15 cm
Habit: Upright
Position: Sun
Suitable for: Bed, Bed edge and border, Pot and container, Cutting garden
Soil type: Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy
Drainage: Well-drained
Soil moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Neutral
Soil note: Suitable for many Swiss garden soils. A loose structure and good drainage matter more than a particular soil type.
Water needs: Medium
Planting time: September, October, November, December
Planting depth: 4–6 inches
Spacing: 4–5 in
Number per m²: 80
Hardiness in Switzerland: Hardy in Switzerland
Hardiness by location: Hardy, also at higher altitudes
Hardiness zone (USDA): 3–8
Overwintering note: Generally hardy in garden soil in Switzerland. At high, windy sites and in containers, plan extra winter protection and avoid winter wet.
For containers: Well suited to containers
Container note: Suitable for sufficiently deep pots. Avoid waterlogging and let the foliage die back completely after flowering.
Cut flower: Suitable as a cut flower
Naturalising: Partly suitable
Naturalising note: Can return for several years. Spreading on its own is not guaranteed for this variety, however.
For bees and butterflies: Not attractive to pollinators
Deer and rodent resistant: No
Edible: Not edible
Toxicity: Harmful if eaten; contact with the plant can irritate the skin. Keep away from children and pets and wear gloves when planting.
RHS hardiness: H6