Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit
Tulipa Ivory Floradale is a garden standout, celebrated for its enormous, buttery blooms that transition from creamy yellow to pure ivory. As an RHS award-winning Darwin Hybrid tulip, Ivory Floradale is prized for its exceptional performance and breathtaking floral displays. Each flower, up to 6 inches in size, emerges in mid-spring, showcasing elegant, egg-shaped petals that open with a soft yellow tint before maturing to a pristine white. These majestic blooms are held aloft on long, sturdy stems above wide, strappy, grey-green leaves, adding a touch of timeless beauty to your spring garden.
This Tulipa gesneriana cultivar is noted for its bushy, upright habit, reaching a mature height of 19 to 24 inches. Ivory Floradale tulips are not only stunning but also incredibly versatile. They blend harmoniously with other bulbs and perennials, making them ideal for group plantings in beds and borders, or for creating striking, layered bulb lasagna displays in containers. Whether you're looking to add softness to your garden landscape or create exquisite spring bouquets, these tulips are sure to impress.
Ivory Floradale's Darwin Hybrid heritage makes it one of the best tulip varieties for naturalizing, meaning it has the potential to return year after year under ideal conditions. This makes it a fantastic choice for planting in large drifts across the landscape, where its consistent performance can be enjoyed season after season. With careful planning, you can extend the tulip display by planting multiple varieties with different bloom times, ensuring a continuous succession of color throughout the spring months.
Cold hardy to USDA Zone 3, Ivory Floradale is super easy to grow and maintain, making it a gardener's favorite. These tulips thrive in sunny to partially shaded locations, with light shade helping to extend their bloom time in warmer climates by keeping the flowers cool. They prefer well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with a neutral to slightly acidic pH.
For best results, plant the bulbs in the fall, spacing them 4 to 8 inches apart and at a depth of 4 to 8 inches. Feeding the bulbs with a balanced fertilizer, such as Espoma Organic® Bulb-tone® Bulb and Flower Food, in early spring will promote robust flowering both in the current season and the following year. After the flowers have bloomed, remove the spent flowers immediately, but allow the foliage to die back naturally. The leaves continue to absorb sunlight and nutrients, feeding the bulb and ensuring strong growth and blooming in the future. In USDA Zones 8-10, remember to refrigerate the bulbs for at least eight weeks before planting to replicate the chilling period they require.
Whether you're planting Tulipa Ivory Floradale to enjoy its creamy, award-winning blooms in the garden or to create luxurious indoor floral arrangements, this tulip is a stunning addition to any collection. Its large, luminous flowers and reliable performance make it a must-have for spring displays.
Bring your garden to life with the vibrant colors and delightful scents of blooming bulbs. To ensure a successful and thriving garden, explore our Bulb Planting Chart and Bulb Care Instructions. These resources have tips and insights to help you plant, nurture, and enjoy your bulbs as they bloom into a magnificent display.
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