Tulipa Clusiana Taco - ORG

There is something graphic about the Tulipa Clusiana ‘Taco’: tapering petals, a deep red colour surrounded by a delicate, precisely defined yellow edge. It’s as if someone has refined the contours with a fine brush. It is a botanical tulip: small, wild and close to its original form – yet it effortlessly catches the eye as soon as it appears in the border amongst the young spring greenery. It is precisely this contrast between its modest size and graphic colouring that makes it one of the more surprising botanical tulips in the range, and a tulip that catches your eye every time you stroll through the garden.

Opens in the sun, closes when it’s cloudy

In sunny weather, the Taco opens wide into a graceful star shape and remains that way for hours on end, whilst in cloudy or dark weather it closes its petals again. This ritual repeats itself for days on end, and if you pay close attention, you’ll also notice a light, pleasant scent that gives the flower that little bit of extra character. Pollinators are also well aware of where to find the flowers. Wild bees and other insects make the most of the open flowers as soon as the sun comes out, precisely when the nectar is easily accessible. In this way, the border changes its appearance slightly from hour to hour, as long as the weather cooperates. Still closed and demure in the morning, by midday it is wide open and radiant.

Plant and leave to naturalise

Plant the organic tulip bulbs in the autumn at a depth of around 12–15 cm, in a sunny to lightly shaded spot with nutritious, well-drained soil. The slender, straight stems each bear a single flower and, at around 15 to 20 centimetres tall, remain compact enough for a border, rockery or pot. After flowering, simply let the foliage wither away: the Taco naturalises easily and returns in greater numbers year after year, with very little maintenance required. Organically grown and certified, so you know exactly how carefully this bulb has been cultivated. A small investment in the autumn that pays dividends year after year.