Romantic Pastels

Ranunculus 'Pink' brings a softly romantic note to spring displays, with neatly layered, rose-like blooms in a refined pink palette. Compact and clump-forming, it sits beautifully in pots and containers, and is particularly handsome in the cutting garden—best gathered as the flowers begin to open for the longest vase life.

Plant the corms in autumn in a sheltered position, with moist, well-drained soil. A simple, elegant choice for curated spring colour and charming indoor arrangements.

Ranunculus 'Red' brings a poised shot of colour to late spring and early summer, with neatly layered, rose-like blooms in a clear, confident red. Compact yet upright, it sits beautifully in sheltered borders and is equally at home in pots by the door—always ready to provide a well-cut stem for the house.

For best results, choose a bright, sheltered position in moist but well-drained soil. As a half hardy ranunculus, it appreciates a little protection from hard frosts and winter wet.

• Flowering: May–July
• Height: 40–60cm
• Bulb size: 6/7
• Perfect for: cutting, containers, borders

Ranunculus 'White' is a wonderfully poised spring-flowering ranunculus, producing lush, rose-like blooms in a clean, flattering white. It lends a quietly luxurious touch to pots and borders alike, and is particularly valued for cutting—perfect for crisp, elegant arrangements at home.

For best results, plant in a bright, sheltered position with sharp drainage. As a half hardy corm, it appreciates protection from hard frost, especially in colder gardens or exposed sites.

Why we love it

• Refined white, double blooms with a beautifully full finish
• Excellent in containers and a favourite for cutting
• Ideal for a bright, sheltered spot with well-drained soil

Scilla siberica 'Alba' is the quietly sophisticated, white-flowered form of Siberian squill. Each bulb produces neat stems carrying nodding, bell-shaped blooms above slender green leaves—an exquisitely simple way to brighten the first weeks of spring.

Superb for naturalising, it threads effortlessly through lawns, settles happily beneath shrubs, and looks particularly poised in gravel and rock gardens. Plant in generous drifts for a calm, luminous effect that returns year after year.

• Refined white, bell-shaped flowers for early spring elegance
• Ideal for naturalising in grass and informal planting schemes
• Fully hardy and easy to grow
• Pollinator friendly spring forage

Tulipa ‘Acuminata’ is a wonderfully characterful tulip, prized for its long, finely pointed petals and painterly spring colouring. Each bloom combines warm yellow and red tones, often finished with a subtle green tinge, creating an elegant, slightly untamed look that suits both pots by the door and well-drained borders.

With an upright habit and grey-green foliage, it brings height and movement without fuss. Plant in autumn, allow it a sheltered position, and look forward to its distinctive, species-style presence from March to April.

• Distinctive shape: slender, pointed petals with a refined, flame-like silhouette
• Colour: yellow and red, often lightly tinged green
• Versatile planting: particularly handsome in spring containers and neat drifts through borders

Tulipa 'Apeldoorn' is a true classic of the Darwin Hybrid tulips: rich red, goblet-shaped blooms that open to reveal a dark base, finely lined with yellow. Held on strong, upright stems, it brings a poised, confident note to mid-spring planting schemes—equally at home threading through borders, underplanting roses and shrubs, or arranged in generous pots by the door.

With its reliable stature and clean green foliage, ‘Apeldoorn’ also makes a splendid cut flower—smart, simple, and unmistakably spring.

• Flower colour: Red with yellow lining and black base
• Flower shape: Goblet
• Established height: 55cm
• Ideal for: Borders, containers, courtyard gardens, cottage & informal gardens, underplanting, cutting

Tulipa 'Apeldoorn's Elite' is a distinguished Darwin Hybrid tulip, prized for its generous, open goblet blooms in rich red, finished with the lightest pastel-orange edging. Planted in autumn, it rises in early spring with an assured presence—excellent for giving borders a polished sweep of colour, and equally handsome in pots and patio containers.

• Colour: Rich red with soft pastel-orange edging
• Flower form: Goblet
• Flowering: March–April
• Height: 40–60cm
• Best for: Borders, pots & containers

For best results, plant into moist but well-drained soil in a sheltered position, allowing the foliage to die back naturally after flowering to feed the bulb for the following season.

Tulipa 'Apricot Beauty' is a beautifully mannered Single Early tulip, admired for its cup-shaped blooms in soft apricot-salmon pink, gently warmed with a hint of orange. In the spring garden it reads as quietly luminous—equally at home in smart pots by the front door as it is threaded through a border among fresh greens and early perennials.

Plant in autumn for a mid-spring performance, and allow the stems to rise to an elegant, upright finish. A refined choice for gardeners who prefer their colour nuanced rather than brash.

Tulipa ‘Beauty of Apeldoorn’ is a classic Darwin Hybrid tulip with a wonderfully confident presence. Each upright, cup-shaped bloom opens in late spring in a rich golden orange, boldly flamed with red—an impeccable choice for adding warmth and structure to borders, and equally handsome in a well-chosen pot.

With grey-green foliage and stems reaching around 60cm, it sits beautifully amongst emerging perennials and spring companions, and it is particularly fine for cutting when you want something smart, clean-lined, and thoroughly seasonal indoors.

• Colour: Golden orange flamed red
• Flowering: April–May
• Height: 60cm
• Use: Borders, containers, cut flowers

Tulipa 'Black Hero' is a wonderfully theatrical Double Late tulip, bearing fully double, peony-flowered blooms in a glossy, near-black reddish-purple. In late spring it brings instant gravitas to pots by the front door, as well as richly toned borders where its dark colour reads as a sophisticated neutral.

Strong, upright stems reach around 60cm, making it an excellent choice for cutting—particularly effective in elegant, monochrome arrangements or paired with creams, soft pinks and fresh spring greens.

• Double Late, peony-flowered tulip in sumptuous near-black tones
• Ideal for containers, borders and cutting
• Plant in autumn for flowering in April–May
• Best in a sheltered position in fertile, well-drained soil

Tulipa 'Blue Spectacle' is a beautifully poised double late tulip, with sumptuous, peony-flowered blooms in polished violet-purple, touched with magenta and finished with a deeper, inky-blue glow towards the centre. At around 50cm, it brings height and composure to spring borders and looks particularly handsome in generous pots, where the layered petals can be appreciated up close.

Plant in autumn, allow winter to do its quiet work, and enjoy an elegant late-spring display that sits effortlessly alongside roses and shrubs, or in a more contemporary courtyard scheme.

• Flower style: Peony Flowered (Double Late) blooms with refined depth of colour
• Best for: Borders, containers, and underplanting roses & shrubs
• Reliable presence: Sturdy, upright stems to approximately 50cm

Tulipa 'Carnaval de Nice' is a decidedly indulgent double late tulip, unfurling creamy white petals boldly flamed and feathered in deep red. In late spring it brings a touch of theatre to borders and looks wonderfully composed in generous pots—particularly when planted in confident drifts.

With an upright habit and elegant grey-green foliage (subtly white-edged), it is a refined choice for cutting too; allow the blooms to colour fully for the most sumptuous stems.

• Flowering: April–May
• Height: 40cm
• Bulb size supplied: 12/14cm
• Position: Sheltered

Tulipa 'Double Mixed' is a late-season blend of sumptuous, peony-like double tulips, selected for an elegant spread of colour—soft pastels alongside brighter notes for a naturally varied planting. With sturdy stems and generously filled blooms, it lends itself beautifully to smart pots by the door, neat drifts at the front of the border, and a few stems brought indoors for spring arrangements.

Plant in autumn and allow the bulbs a well-drained position; come April and May, this mixed selection delivers a richly layered finish to the tulip season.

Why you’ll love it

• Double, peony-style flowers for a refined, full-bodied look
• Late tulip season interest, flowering April–May
• Excellent in containers and equally poised in borders
• Cut-flower worthy stems for the vase

Tulipa 'Exotic Emperor' is a beautifully refined Fosteriana tulip, prized for its softly sumptuous, semi-double blooms. Creamy petals are warmed with a gentle yellow flush and elegantly brushed with green, creating a poised, painterly effect that sits just as handsomely in a smart pot as it does threaded through spring borders.

With sturdy, upright stems to around 45cm and grey-green foliage, it’s a dependable choice for early-season colour and a particularly graceful cut flower for the house.

• Flower style: Semi-double, creamy-yellow with subtle green streaking
• Where it excels: Borders, containers and spring cutting
• Type: Fully hardy, perennial bulb
• Easy to grow: An unfussy favourite for beginners and experienced gardeners alike