Tulipa 'Apeldoorn'
flowerApeldoorn is the definitive Darwin Hybrid tulip and one of the most widely planted tulips in the world. It opens enormous, classically egg-shaped blooms in brilliant glowing scarlet-red, sometimes with a black base and yellow ring inside, atop sturdy 20 to 24 in. stems that stand up to spring weather. Darwin Hybrids are the longest-lived, most perennial group of tulips, so unlike many fancy tulips that fade after one year, Apeldoorn often returns and even multiplies for several seasons. It blooms in mid-spring and is superb in mass plantings, borders, and as a long-lasting cut flower.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 7 days
Bloom
~165 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
perennial
Comes back every year
Spacing
4-6 in. apart
Planting Depth
6-8 in. deep, pointed end up
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Fertile, sandy, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 8
When to Fertilize
At fall planting and again as shoots emerge
Fertilizer
Bulb fertilizer or bone meal
Plant Apeldoorn bulbs in fall, about 6 weeks before the ground freezes, in full sun and fertile, sandy, well-drained soil - tulips rot in soggy ground. Set bulbs 6 to 8 in. deep (measuring to the base) and 4 to 6 in. apart, pointed end up, and water once after planting. They need winter cold to bloom, so they are not suited to mild-winter zones without pre-chilling. After flowering, deadhead the spent bloom but let the foliage yellow and die back naturally to recharge the bulb for next year. In well-drained soil Darwin Hybrids perennialize better than most; in heavy or wet soil, many gardeners treat tulips as annuals and replant each fall.
🌼 Have a different variety?Cultivars of the same species usually share the same basic care — they differ mainly in flower color, height, and bloom form, not in how you grow them. So this guide still applies even if your exact variety isn't the one shown.
Direct sow
Nov 12
Projected first bloom
Apr 26
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Dig up and eat newly planted bulbs - lay wire mesh over the bed, plant deeper, or interplant with daffodils, which rodents avoid
Browse buds and blooms - use repellents or site tulips near the house; deer find daffodils and alliums distasteful, so mix them in
Cluster on emerging shoots and buds - hose them off and encourage ladybugs
Caused by wet soil - plant in sharp drainage and never in beds that stay soggy in winter
For cut flowers, harvest tulips in the cool morning when the buds are still closed but fully colored (the cracked-bud stage); they open in the vase and last longest cut early. Cut the stem at an angle, leaving as many leaves on the plant as you can if you want the bulb to return. Tulips keep growing in the vase and bend toward light, so turn arrangements; a clean vase and cold water extend their life. In the garden, deadhead faded flowers so the plant feeds the bulb rather than setting seed, but always leave the foliage until it yellows.
Tulips are grown purely for ornament and offer only modest wildlife value - the early blooms provide a little pollen and nectar to bees on warm spring days, but the showy hybrids are not significant pollinator plants. Their real value is as one of the signature flowers of spring, unmatched for mass color in beds and as a premier cut flower. Note that tulip bulbs are toxic if eaten by people or pets.
Tulip bulbs are the most poisonous part - and the flowers, leaves, and roots contain it too - holding tulipalin and glycoproteins that cause stomach pain, drooling, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea if eaten, in people and in dogs, cats, and horses. Handling the bulbs can also cause an itchy allergic skin reaction known as 'tulip fingers.' Grown strictly as an ornamental; do not eat any part.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.