Description

Lily-Flowered Tulip Marilyn is a useful choice for customers who want a tulip with strong pattern, elegant shape and a brighter finish than darker late-season varieties. The flowers open creamy white to ivory white, marked with vivid red, raspberry or strawberry-red flames that run through the petals. As the bloom matures, the white becomes clearer and the red markings appear sharper, giving Marilyn a crisp painted effect.

Tulip Marilyn is best used where contrast matters. It works well in estate entrances, civic planters, hotel borders, public garden paths, courtyard containers, wedding venues, business frontages and Tidy Towns displays. The white base brings brightness to the scheme, while the red flames give enough strength for the flowers to read clearly in grouped planting.

Marilyn combines well with white narcissus, red tulips, dark purple tulips, blue muscari, late alliums and other white or red spring bulbs. In Ireland, plant in autumn into fertile, free-draining soil in full sun or partial shade. Avoid wet winter ground, particularly on heavier soils, and use raised beds, improved drainage or containers where drainage is poor. Because the flower shape is refined and pointed, place it in reasonably sheltered positions where spring wind and rain are less likely to spoil the open blooms.