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Bulbs

Tulipa 'Sonnet' (6)

tulip 'Sonnet'

A perennial bulb to 50cm in height with strappy green leaves and fluted purple-red flowers with a golden yellow edge which appear in the spring

Synonyms

Tulipa Ballade Dream

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Ultimate height

0.1–0.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1–2 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Liliaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin allergen. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin allergen - for further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Tulipa are bulbous perennials with characteristic flowers, in a wide range of colours, in spring
Name status: Accepted
Horticultural Group: Lily-flowered Group tulips have goblet-shaped flowers with pointed, out-curving or reflexed tepals, and flower in late spring

How to grow

Cultivation

Plant 10 to 15cm deep in fertile, well-drained soil with shelter from strong winds and protection from excessive wet. See tulip cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by lifting and separating offsets. See bulb propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Patio and container plants
Cut flowers
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Wall side borders

Pruning

Deadhead after flowering; allow foliage to die down naturally

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, aphids and stem and bulb eelworm, squirrels may eat bulbs

Diseases

May be susceptible to tulip fire and bulb rot in poorly drained soil

Get involved

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