The National Velvet tulip variety impersonates pure elegance and noblesse. Flowers of this perfectly shaped tulip take on a deep, velvety, crimson red colour with a purplish shade on the outside. The inside of the petals is shiny crimson red with a yellow dot at the base. The sparkling flowers of the National Velvet tulip on the tops of the long stems shine in the sun like glowing coals. Their unique colouring brings unforgettable results when combined with other tulips that take on deep purple and dark red colour. Should you prefer a cheerful mix of colours, do not hesitate and create contrasting compositions. The most stunning effects can be achieve by combining this tulip with orange, yellow and bright red tulips. The presented variety is recommended for mixed flower beds with perennials and single variety plantings in containers. Dark coloured tulips accompanied by their elongated green leaves constitute great material for vases. Their expected height amounts to 40 cm. The blooming period falls for April and May.

Tulips do not belong to flowering plants that require any special growing conditions. You only need to follow some basic rules in order to enjoy flowers grown on your own. The plants in question are rather undemanding in regard to the soil, provided it is not to moist and not to loamy. Tulips prefer soft, fertile, properly cultivated and fertilized soils. The compost proves to be the most effective tulip food, as the plants will pay you back for it with large flowers. Should a site not meet tulip expectations, you may try to improve the soil. Loosen heavy soils with an admixture of sand and enhance the sandy ones with humus and compost. Tulips require sunlight, but a few hours of shade per day will not hurt them. The water requirements of tulips are considered moderate. Do not let the soil, in which they grow, dry out though. Start fertilizing tulips when their shoots reach a height of about 5 cm. This moment usually falls on March. Apply nitrogen-rich agents, because plants will use this element as a building block.

Tulip bulbs must be planted in autumn only, when the soil temperature drops to 10 to 12°C. Make sure during planting that the planting depth equals two times the height of a bulb - usually it is from 8 to 15 cm. Pour some sand, then compost and high quality soil into the hole before putting the bulb in. Place the bulb tip up, cover with soil, press it gently and water. We recommend to spread some mulch over the planting site before the winter. It will protect the bulbs from the frost and limit weed development and drying of the soil. This treatment is not absolutely necessary, yet highly recommended. Tulips may grow 3 to 4 years on the same site. After that time we recommend to dig the bulbs out, divide them and transfer to another place. This cultivation method ensures that the vigorous healthy plants will bloom exuberantly.

Each package contains 50 bulbs of the National Velvet tulip, sized 11 to 12 cm. The basic plant facts and growing instructions are printed on the packaging label.

• Variety: National Velvet
• Use: ornamental - garden, pots, cut flower
• Growth form: erect
• Flower colour: crimson red
• Vegetation form: perennial
• Site: sunny or partial shade; soft, fertile, properly cultivated and fertilized soil
• Bulbs: 50
• Height: 40 cm
• Flowering period: April - May
• Planting period: autumn
• Planting depth (cm): 8 - 15 cm
• Wintering in the ground?: yes