Tulip 'Carnaval de Nice'

Where to Plant:

A beautiful and famous double late tulip, 'Carnaval de Nice' produces large, peony-like blooms of pure white, dramatically streaked and feathered with raspberry red. The heavy, packed flower heads need a sheltered location, protected from strong spring winds and rain, to prevent the stems from snapping. For the best display, plant it in a position that receives full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. It is a superb choice for a statement in a border and looks wonderful in large pots.

How to Plant:

The bulbs should be planted late in the autumn, during October or November. Dig a generous hole and plant each bulb at least 15cm (6 inches) deep, or roughly twice the height of the bulb itself. Deeper planting can help anchor the tall stems. Place the bulb with the pointed tip facing the sky and space them about 10-15cm apart to create a full display. Water once after planting.

Aftercare:

Like most highly complex double tulips, this variety is not reliably perennial and is best treated as an annual for a guaranteed show each year. To try and encourage it to return, you must remove the spent flower head once the petals have fallen to stop it forming seed. It is then essential to allow the foliage to die back completely, leaving it for at least six weeks after flowering before removing it. Feeding with a liquid tomato feed during this period can also help.