Description

Tulip pulchella Violacea Yellow Heart is a striking botanical tulip, celebrated for its jewel-like colouring and its ability to naturalise beautifully in Irish gardens. The petals are a rich, vibrant violet-purple, contrasted by a glowing, golden-yellow heart that radiates from the flower’s base, creating a brilliant two-tone effect. This eye-catching combination makes it one of the most attractive species tulips for naturalistic planting schemes, alpine gardens, and wildflower meadows.

At only 10–15 cm tall, this tulip is perfectly suited for rockeries, gravel gardens, containers, or the front of borders, where its intense colouring can be appreciated up close. It blooms early in spring, often among the first tulips to flower, bringing much-needed brightness to gardens when little else is in bloom. Its low-growing form and compact habit allow it to weave naturally among other early bulbs such as crocuses, scilla, or muscari.

Violacea Yellow Heart is highly beneficial for biodiversity. Its open, bowl-shaped flowers provide easy access to pollen for early bees, hoverflies, and pollinators at a critical time of year. Over time, it spreads gently through offsets and seed, naturalising into long-lasting carpets that return reliably with minimal maintenance.

Plant in autumn in well-drained soil, ideally in full sun. It is particularly well-suited to sandy or gritty soils and thrives in alpine troughs, raised beds, or even turf plantings. Once established, it requires little attention and will reappear each spring, offering a natural and enduring charm.