Triumph Tulip Mix 'Flaming Flag' & 'White Flag' - 20 pieces

White calms, violet enlivens: in this mix the two varieties complement each other perfectly. 'White Flag' carries simple, pure white cup-shaped flowers. 'Flaming Flag' has the same white ground but is marked with violet flames. Because both flower at the same time, the result is a cohesive, harmonious picture.

At about 45–55 cm tall the mix suits beds, borders and pots, in sun or partial shade. Plant it in generous groups, perhaps together with purple grape hyacinths or dark blue hyacinths. White forget-me-nots and silvery foliage also go well with it. In large containers it forms the top layer of a bulb lasagne. Twenty bulbs are enough for a group of about a quarter of a square metre or for two large pots.

Triumph tulips from the 'Flag' series are considered strong and reliable, in the vase too. Bouquets of both varieties look fresh and elegant. They play hardly any role for bees. They give their finest display in the first year. With occasional topping up, the mix stays full for years.

In Switzerland the best time to plant is October to November; planting is possible from October to December as long as the ground is not frozen. Set the bulbs 10–15 cm deep with the tip pointing up, roughly three times the height of the bulb. Space them 10–12 cm apart and plant in groups of 10 or more rather than singly. The soil should drain freely; in loam or clay, a handful of grit in the hole helps. In pots, set the bulbs closer together.

In dry spells in spring the tulip needs a little water. Remove the seed head after flowering, but leave the foliage until it has turned yellow, as it feeds the bulb. You can leave the bulbs in the bed, or lift them once the leaves have died back, store them dry and replant in autumn; if you want an equally generous display every year, top up with fresh bulbs. Where voles are a problem, a planting basket is worthwhile. In pots, protect the bulbs from prolonged winter wet.