Description

Tulip Lighting Sun is a glowing Darwin Hybrid tulip whose petals shift in tone like a living flame. Each bloom shades beautifully from deep orange at the edges through lighter orange hues towards the centre, carrying just a delicate hint of rose that softens the fire. At the heart of the flower sits a golden-yellow base, adding warmth and depth, as if each bloom were lit from within. Flowering in late April to early May, it brings a bold yet refined radiance to spring planting schemes, offering colour that feels both energetic and elegant.

As a Darwin Hybrid, Lighting Sun is bred for strength and performance, with tall, sturdy stems that reach 45–55 cm and hold firm against Irish winds and spring showers. Its flowers are large and long-lasting, making them particularly valuable for high-impact planting in public spaces, civic borders, and estate gardens where both reliability and visual drama are required. The blossoms open wide on sunny days, catching the light and displaying their layered shading to perfection, then close again neatly in cooler evenings.

Best planted in autumn, this variety thrives in fertile, well-drained soils that retain spring moisture without becoming waterlogged. A sunny site brings out the richest gradations of colour, though it will tolerate light shade, making it adaptable across Irish gardens from city borders to rural schemes. It is ideal for large drifts, mass bedding, or bold avenues where its flame-toned flowers can be repeated for maximum impact. In containers, it creates a spectacular statement that can be placed near entrances, patios, or terraces for close-up enjoyment.

Although tulips themselves have limited pollinator benefit, Lighting Sun plays a key role in seasonal succession planting when combined with biodiversity-supporting bulbs. Underplanting with Muscari armeniacum, or placing it in schemes alongside Allium Purple Sensation and Camassia leichtlinii caerulea, ensures a continuous nectar supply into summer, balancing ornamental value with ecological responsibility.