Description

Tulip Quebec is a vibrant multiflora tulip, prized for its ability to produce several blooms from a single bulb. Each stem often carries three to five flowers, opening in spring to form wide, star-shaped cups. The colouring is especially eye-catching — soft coral-red petals edged in creamy white, with a warm golden flush at the base that glows when the flowers are fully open in sunlight. This multi-headed habit ensures that even a small planting delivers a full, abundant display, making Quebec a fantastic choice for gardeners and landscapers who want high impact from fewer bulbs.

Reaching a modest 25–35 cm tall, Quebec is an early bloomer, often appearing in March to April, brightening borders and rockeries at a time when most other tulips are yet to emerge. Its compact stature makes it extremely hardy in Irish conditions, holding steady against wind and spring showers. The open form of its blooms is also highly attractive to pollinators, offering accessible pollen to bees and early insects when nectar sources are limited.

This variety is particularly effective in naturalistic plantings and rockeries, where its multi-flowered habit creates jewel-like clusters of colour. It is also ideal for containers, alpine troughs, and low front-of-border displays, where the abundance of blooms can be admired up close. Over time, Quebec naturalises gently, forming small expanding colonies that return year after year with very little care.

Plant bulbs in autumn at a depth of 8–10 cm in sunny, free-draining soils. It performs best in sandy or gritty conditions but will thrive in any well-prepared soil that avoids waterlogging. For maximum effect, plant in clumps of 10 or more, allowing the multi-headed stems to create dense, floriferous clusters. Pair with early daffodils such as Tête-à-Tête, dwarf irises, or blue carpets of Scilla siberica for a lively spring tapestry that is both beautiful and pollinator-friendly.