Tulip ‘Annika’

Tulip ‘Annika’ is a recently-introduced variety of the species tulip, T. clusiana, which produces three or more small, but incredibly showy, blooms per bulb. The flowers are soft pink and ivory white, darkening as they age to a warm fuchsia-pink. In the centre of each flower is a dark purple blotch. Colour comes early with this tulip—April or even sooner in a mild year—and it is the perfect choice for beds, borders or rock gardens, as well as in pots and tubs. It is commonly known as the Lady Tulip.

With good drainage and lots of sun, Tulip clusiana ‘Annika’ is especially long-lived. It is strongly perennial—which means that, in addition to all the above ways to grow it, it naturalizes an area well, when in a position it likes. Therefore, unlike the large Darwin-like hybrids that are recommended to be lifted and replanted each year, it is brilliant for planting in grass, where it will spread through self-sown seed.