Parrot Tulip

An exotic tulip variety with ruffled, feathered petals in dramatic color combinations that resemble tropical bird plumage. Parrot tulips bloom in late spring and produce the most flamboyant flowers of any tulip class. The heavy blooms may need support in windy locations, and they are best treated as annuals for the most reliable display.

Parrot tulips are propagated only from bulbs—seed propagation takes 5-7 years to reach flowering size and offspring vary wildly. Purchase fresh, large-grade bulbs from reputable suppliers each autumn for the best display. Some varieties may produce small offset bulbs that can be grown on for 1-2 years before flowering.

The Season Plate

Your Parrot Tulip Year

Composed for Zone 7 · typical seasons · frost passes Apr 2, returns Nov 1

Sow Parrot Tulip Oct – Nov, pick Apr – May. Set your climate below and every date on this plate re-times itself.

Sowing window

Oct – Nov

re-timed to your frost dates

Plant out

after Apr 2

once frost risk has passed

First picking

around Apr 13

≈ 180 days from sowing · 35-55 cm per plant

Composed for —ColdTemperateMildWarmUse my locationUsed once to set your season · only the zone is kept

Week-by-week Parrot Tulip reminders watering, feeding and pruning, timed to your dates

In the app

Frost alerts for your garden a warning before a cold night costs you the crop

In the app

Succession sowing dates so the picking never gaps mid-season

In the app

Keep my dates — free for 7 daysWe nudge you as each window opens · cancel anytime

Parrot tulips are the most flamboyant members of the tulip family, with enormous ruffled, fringed, and feathered petals in spectacular color combinations—often streaked and flamed with contrasting hues. Growing 40-55cm tall, the large, heavy flowers nod gracefully on their stems. They bloom in late spring, extending the tulip season.

Plant bulbs 15-20cm deep in autumn in well-drained soil in full sun. Deep planting improves perennialization, though parrot tulips are best treated as annuals for a reliable display, as they rarely return with the same vigor in subsequent years. Plant in sheltered positions, as the large flowers are heavy and can be damaged by strong spring winds.

For the most spectacular display, plant in generous groups of 15-25 bulbs. Parrot tulips are show-stopping in formal beds, large containers, and as cut flowers. Allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering to feed the bulb for the following season, or lift and discard spent bulbs and replace with fresh stock each autumn.

Parrot tulips are statement flowers best planted in generous groups for maximum impact. They combine dramatically with forget-me-nots, wallflowers, and pansies as underplanting. Mix with simpler tulip forms for textural contrast. In containers, plant three or four parrot tulips with trailing ivy and violas for a spectacular spring display.

The Society Table

Tulip belongs beside it.

Old growers' knowledge, checked against Parrot Tulip's real companion table below — test any plant you're growing.

Grows well in the company of · 3

TulipDaffodilPansy

Keep apart · 0

no recorded foes

Plant Parrot Tulip with good neighboursThe planner flags conflicts before they're in the ground

Plant in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Incorporate bone meal at planting time. Parrot tulips are hungry—feed with balanced bulb fertilizer in autumn at planting and again as shoots emerge in spring. Good drainage is essential to prevent bulb rot.

Ideal Temperature

Hardiness Zone Compatibility

Cut parrot tulips when buds show color but are still closed—they open dramatically in the vase. Cut stems in the morning and place in cool water. The spectacular ruffled blooms last 5-7 days in a vase and open wider as they age, creating an ever-changing display. Support heavy stems with other flowers in the arrangement.

Storage & Preservation

Parrot tulip flowers press well for craft projects, though their ruffled form makes pressing challenging. Dry individual petals between books for botanical art. Bulbs can be lifted after foliage dies, dried, and stored in mesh bags in a cool, dry place until autumn planting. However, fresh bulbs produce the best display.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

The heavy flowers are easily damaged by wind and rain—plant in sheltered spots. Poor perennialization means most gardeners treat parrot tulips as annuals, replacing bulbs each autumn. Squirrels frequently dig up newly planted bulbs; protect with wire mesh. Tulip fire disease can devastate plantings; rotate sites and plant only healthy bulbs.

Growing Tips

1. Plant parrot tulip bulbs at a depth of three times the bulb height, typically 15-20 cm deep, to protect them from temperature fluctuations and provide adequate anchorage for their heavy blooms.
2. Choose a planting site with full sun to light afternoon shade and excellent drainage, as parrot tulips are highly susceptible to bulb rot in waterlogged or poorly drained soils.
3. Add a handful of coarse sand or grit to the bottom of each planting hole in heavy clay soils to improve drainage directly around the bulb and reduce the risk of fungal disease.
4. Stake tall parrot tulip varieties with thin bamboo canes or grow-through ring supports before the buds open, as the large, heavy flower heads can cause stems to bend or snap in wind and rain.
5. In regions with mild winters where soil temperatures remain above 10°C, pre-chill bulbs in the refrigerator for 12-16 weeks before planting, keeping them away from ripening fruit which emits ethylene gas that damages the developing flower embryo.
6. Apply a slow-release bulb fertilizer high in phosphorus and potassium at planting time and again when shoots emerge in spring to support strong root development and vibrant flower color.
7. Plant parrot tulips among low-growing perennials such as forget-me-nots, creeping phlox, or hardy geraniums that will fill in and disguise the yellowing tulip foliage after flowering has finished.
8. To maximize vase life of cut parrot tulips, harvest stems when the bud is showing color but not yet fully open, cut at an angle with a sharp knife, and place immediately in cool water with floral preservative.
9. Rotate planting locations every 2-3 years to reduce the buildup of tulip-specific soil pathogens such as tulip fire (Botrytis tulipae) and fusarium bulb rot.
10. In areas with heavy deer or rabbit pressure, apply a granular repellent around emerging shoots or plant bulbs in buried wire mesh baskets to protect them from rodent damage underground.