Description

Tulip Ile de France is a time-tested heirloom single early tulip, cherished for over half a century for its deep, velvety-red petals and flawless cup-shaped blooms. Its colour holds exceptionally well in Irish spring light, remaining vivid even under the often overcast skies and sudden showers that characterise March and April. The petals carry a faint, fresh scent that becomes more noticeable on warm, calm days, making it a subtle sensory addition to garden spaces.

Reaching 45–50 cm, Ile de France is highly adaptable to Irish conditions, thriving in full sun but coping well with light shade during cloudier spells. It prefers moderately fertile, free-draining soils that retain some spring moisture without becoming waterlogged — a common challenge in heavier Irish ground. Strong, weather-resistant stems make it ideal for exposed beds, municipal schemes, and coastal gardens where wind resilience is essential.

While its tight, traditional tulip form offers limited biodiversity value, it more than earns its place when planted alongside pollinator-rich companions such as Muscari armeniacum, Allium Purple Sensation, or Chionodoxa luciliae. In formal parterres, long avenue borders, and heritage garden displays, it delivers early-season structure and impact, bridging the floral gap between the last narcissi and the mid-season tulip surge. Its deep red hue also makes it a superb backdrop for paler tulips such as Maureen or soft-pink Finola, providing high-contrast, designer-quality schemes.

Plant in generous drifts for municipal bedding, mix with contrasting tulips for commercial frontage displays, or use in curated courtyard gardens where the interplay of colour, form, and light can be fully appreciated. With good siting and proper aftercare, Ile de France returns reliably year after year, cementing its reputation as one of the most enduring single early tulips for the Irish climate.