My Victorian Garden: Gardening with Rare & Unusual Antique Heirloom Spring Tulip Bulbs
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Gardening with Rare and Unusual Perennial Tulips
Why Rare and Unusual Antique Heirloom tulips?
Tulipa Gloria Solis, 1854
© 2012 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Although our house (an 1880 Victorian) and its garden are still very much a (lot of) work in progress, we knew we wanted to create a period perennial garden to go with the house.
We have spent a lot of time researching and finding appropriate plants for each season and our climate. So even though the beds are not exactly laid out according to plan yet, we started choosing and planting perennials appropriate for our Victorian garden.
While not every plant we grow is pre-1900, we have tried to stick to those as close to what was available and in use circa 1880 or that the original owners may have added over the first years they lived here.
We are in zone 5, so you may not be able to grow all of these, but if you can, there is a lot to be said for gardening with plants that have been around so long. Many of these older varieties are hardier than newer hybrids. Some are fragrant and none are fussy. Heirloom tulips may cost a little more but they are well worth the investment, especially since heirloom tulips increase and come up every year while most new varieties will not.
As we add bulbs annually, we will add more to this lens as our new antique varieties bloom, so please bookmark this page or follow us on facebook or twitter for update notices.
Contents at a Glance
Tulip Protea 'Peony Gold'
First Bloom Spring 2012
© 2012 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Although this beauty (above and on right) looks likea trendy new designer hybrid, it is actually an antique heirloom tulip from the 1700s height of tulipmania.
Extremely rare, heirloom tulip 'Peony Gold' changes color from pale yellow green to yellow and frequently followed by gold brushed with red.
© 2012 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Bloomed early (mid-April) for us this year. Hardy to Zone 4.
Photos above and on right show color change over several days in April, 2012.
More 2012 Photos Below
(and We'll be Adding Even More as They Bloom)
Tulip Mania
in the 1630s in Europe when the coveted wild flowers were imported from Turkey. The most popular were the elaborately colored and striped "broken" tulips which were feathered and flamed by benign viruses.
Tulips came to America with the earliest settlers. In the 1700s and early 1800s, tulips were grown as a mix of individual specimens. In the mid to late 1800s, Victorians massed brilliant early blooming tulips in elaborate beds in their lawns. By the early 20th century, in part as a reaction to what was considered the excesses of the Victorian era, taller late-blooming pastel tulips came into production and favor.
Picture is of 1670 painting by Jan Davidsz de Heem, "Festoon with Flowers and Fruits"
About "Broken" Tulips
The broken in broken tulips refers to the coloring - there is nothing damaged about them although the contrasting coloration is caused by a virus. The virus does not harm the bulbs. However, because it can be spread by aphids and other insects, broken tulips should not be grown near other tulips or lillies.Broken tulips should not be confused with modern "Rembrandt" tulips, which have been created by breeding and are not true broken tulips. Once you've grown the originals you will see that they do not compare.
Tulipa Gloria Solis (Glory of the Sun)
From 1854 and New (to us) in 2012
'Glory of the Sun' (shown at right and below) was one of the most popular tulips between 1860 and
the mid-1900s.
It then fell out of fashion and became endangered, almost completely disappearing. It is still a hard-to-find rare tulip.
About a foot high, early blooming, and rated for zones 5 through 7.
© 2012 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
© 2012 CJS. All Rights Resereved.
Tulipa Gloria Nigrorum
Broken Tulip from 1837
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Also known as 'Violet Ponceau' and 'La Victorieuse,' Gloria Nigrorum (Black Glory) is one of the oldest surviving "Bijbloemen" (purple on white) broken tulips. It is a striking deep violet on creamy white. 16" tall for zones 4 through 7.
Columbine Tulip
Purple on Lavender
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.Columbine opens purple on white which quickly becomes a soft pretty shade of lavender. This "Bijbloemen" tulip dates to 1920 and bears the name of Harlequin's sweetheart, and a sweetheart of a tulip it surely is! A demure 16 inches, Columbine will flourish in zones 4-7.
Heirloom Tulip Bulbs are True Perennials
Out of one, many
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Here's a group that started with just one bulb a few years ago.
The tulip in the background of the first photo is Purple Crown.
Other Types of Broken Tulips
In addition to the Bijbloemen tulips shown above, there are Roses (Red and Pink on White) and Bizarres (brown or red on yellow).
Within each of those three categories are three subcategories: Breeder, the original solid color, Feather, which describes tulips lightly marked with the darker color, and Flame, which refers to more distinct and dramatic high contrast markings.
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Learn More About the Power and Intrigue of The Early Tulip Trade
And the Fascinating Story of Tulipmania
This Page Was Awarded
The Prestigious Purple Star
on February 26th 2012
A Wild Parrot Tulip from 1750
Markgraaf van Baden
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
This extremely rare early parrot tulip known as the "Mad Count Baden"
is historically one of the most popular and important tulips. The folks
at Old House Gardens have compared it to "molten lava cascading
down a tropical mountainside." We can't think of a more apt description
for the swirling flames of Markgraaf van Baden. 16-18" Tall for zone 4-7.
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Wacky Weather Wreaks Havoc on Wild and Crazy Tulips
Spring 2012 Garden Battered by Fluctuating Weather Extremes
© 2012 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
After an unusually warm winter and early spring temperatures that felt more like summer, we were hit by a snowstorm on April 23rd followed by a warm spell broken by gale force winds and rain with a severe hailstorm at the beginnng of May. We've got some battle-weary tulips amongst the survivors. Temperatures were back to near 80+ degrees (farenheit) again within a couple of days. Still repairing the latest damage as much as possible. Took the above photos the morning after the hail storm when I literally peeled these blossoms off the ground. Shown in the above photo on the left, T. Perfecta and on the right, Markgraaf van Baden.
Tulipa Cafe Brun
Another Early but Not-so-early Parrot Tulip
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Dating to 1840, this flamboyantly gorgeous tulip is inexplicably named "Brown Coffee." Looking more like a dragon's firey breath, this tulip grows in zones 5 through 7 and is 12 to 14 inches tall. Ours bloom in mid-May. Photos were taken May 14th, 2011.
Enjoy Heirloom Tulips Every Day
With Art from the Era of Tulipmania
Still Life with Flowers
by Jan Brueghel the Elder
Available at AllPosters.com
Tulips in a Glass Vase
by Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder
Available at AllPosters.com
Let Tulips Brighten Your Life Year Round
Purple Crown Tulip
Very Rare from 1785
A double early tulip that is one of the very few
from the 1700s available at all. It is a regal rich
purple-red standing about 12 inches tall.
Zone 5-7..
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Tulipa Willem van Oranje
This exhuberant tulip (shown above and to the left)
was named for the founder of the Dutch Republic
in honor of his 400th birthday.
Hardy in zones 3 thru 7, Tulipa Willem van Oranje
is just under 12 inches tall and an exhuberant
blend of copper tones with peach, orange, rose,
and gold. An impressionist painter's dream!
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
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And Tulip Themed Accessories
For Your Home
We Were Honored to Have this Page Chosen as Lens of the Day
for March 20, 2012
Robin Svedi wrote:
Today as we say hello to spring, we invite you to
stop and smell the tulips -- but not just any tulips.
At My Victorian Garden: Gardening with Rare
and Unusual Antique Heirloom Spring Tulip
Bulbs, lensmaster ---Chazz shows us several delightfully rare tulips from his own garden where
he is attempting to recreate the look of the land during the late Victorian era:
"We have tried to stick to those as close to
what was available and in use circa 1880
or that the original owners may have added
over the first years they lived here."
Best of all, Chazz promises to update the lens as more of his flowers bloom.
What a great way to keep an online garden journal!
Can't get enough Victorian era flowers? Visit ---Chazz's other Victorian garden lenses about Heirloom Daffodils and Antique Roses.
Thank you, Robin, for such a wonderful introduction!
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Tulipa Lac van Rijn
Extremely Rare Tulip from 1620
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
This rare survivor from tulipmania was one of the most expensive tulips in the 17th century and commanded prices equivalent to thousands of dollars today. Although
it still commands a higher price as tulip bulbs go, if you are lucky enough to find one, you can expect to pay less than $10 or $12. Not bad for an almost 400 year old antique of such beauty! Lac van Rijn (pronounced Lock von Rhine) is a single early tulip that is a good naturalizer, 14 inches tall, zones 4-7.
Even Rarer: General Ney Tulip
From 1837
© 2011 CJS. All Rights Reserved.
Named after one of Napoleon's generals, this is an early single tulip that is a most unusual rich mahogany or cordovan color that changes tone with the light, sometimes glowing with more of a red undertone and sometimes a tad more purple. Difficult to explain and even more difficult to capture in a photo. Grows to about 16-18 inches. Zone 4-7.
Order Tulip Bulbs Now for Fall Planting
Our Recommendations for Planting Tulips
And Other Bulbs
Feed the Bulbs
Our Favorite Bulb Fertilizer
Dr. Earth 700 Organic 1 Bulb Fertilizer, Boxed, 4-Pound
Amazon Price: $12.00 (as of 06/03/2012)
Dr. Earth Organic 1 Bulb Food is a 100 percent natural and organic formula with Alaskan fish bone meal, valley-grown alfalfa meal, colloidal rock phosphate, feather meal, naturally mined potassium sulfate and, as they like to say, "blended with 100-Percent pure love." It loosens and improves soil structure and is pet and people safe. 3-15-2 formulation.
The Only Garden Hand Tool You'll Need
The Joshua Roth Hori Hori Authentic Japanese Multipurpose Knife
Japanese Hori Hori Garden Landscaping Digging Tool With Stainless Steel Blade & Sheath
Amazon Price: $28.95 (as of 06/03/2012)
I recently discovered this amazing tool and was so impressed I wrote an extensive review about it. You can read my Extended Review of this and Other Gardening Essentials in A Guide to the Best Garden Tools and Accessories: Personal Reviews and Recommendations. (Link will open
in a new window.)
Great Garden Resources
Find the Perfect Accent for Your Garden
About This Gardener
Don't Miss Our Other Victorian Garden Lenses
For More Antique Heirloom Flowers
Gardening with Antique Perennial Daffodils
and Other Heirloom Spring Bulbs
Growing Romantic Old Garden and Old Fashioned Roses in a Victorian Garden
Antique Heirloom and Old Garden Roses: Categories & Characteristics
Growing Heirloom Bearded Iris
We'll be adding more as the season
(and flora) unfolds, so check back for updates.
We're So Glad You Stopped By
Don't leave yet...there's lots more below
Thank You to these Squid Angels
For Bestowing "Blessings" on this Page
Squid Angels are experienced Squidoo lensmasters who are recognized as top-notch Squidoo members. Angels "bless" pages they consider to be exemplary and exceptional. A Squid Angel Blessing is, to me, more than a pat on the back for a job well done. It is a seal of approval, recognition from those whose work you admire, and encouragement to create even better lenses.Thank you to the Squid Angels who have sprinkled angel dust on this lens.
Your support is greatly appreciated!
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Don't Forget
We'll be adding to this lens as our garden grows and more flowers bloom so bookmark this page and check back to see what's new!
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Special thanks to Steve for the Squid Art used in this module.
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Let us know you were here
Leave a comment or just say hello. We'd love to hear from you.
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joannalynn
May 13, 2012 @ 7:40 pm | delete
- I order her plants from the Monticello site a couple of times a year, and often heirlooms. Now you have me on a new track...tulips! This is exciting.
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randomthings
May 13, 2012 @ 4:33 pm | delete
- This is a beautiful lens. And the different types of tulips...I had no idea. Thanks for sharing.
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joannalynn
May 11, 2012 @ 8:13 pm | delete
- My Mum's favourite flowers are tulips, and she loves heirlooms of every kind. These are so beautiful (my tulips seem so ordinary). She is going to be delighted with your lens :), which I am going to share with her. Do you know if Thomas Jefferson had any tulip varieties he cultivated at Monticello?
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---Chazz
May 12, 2012 @ 11:23 am | delete
- Hi Joanna - Thanks for sharing this with your mum. To answer your question, Jefferson was fond of tulips and grew Lac van Rijn, Duc van Tol, tulipa cv (a yellow with red), parrot tulips and others. He frequently had bulbs shipped from Europe and had mostly the striped varieties popular in the latter 1700s. You should be able to see some of these and get more info on the Monticello website. Hope that helps. Thanks again.
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SRitchieable
May 11, 2012 @ 3:01 am | delete
- Congratulations on your Purple Star - and happy Tulip Day (May 13th). (I've featured your lens on mine: http://www.squidoo.com/windmill-day-is-fun under the Tulip section). Thanks for sharing!
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_________________________________________________
by ---Chazz
Hello and welcome. My name is Chazz and I am a Cephalopodic (aka Squidoo Addict), Giant Squid, and Squid Angel. When I can tear myself away from Squidoodling,... more »
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