Description

Tulip Orange Princess is a flamboyant Double Late tulip, prized for its opulent, peony-like blooms that deliver some of the most spectacular colour displays of late spring. Each flower is a sumptuous mass of layered petals, combining deep orange, glowing amber, and fiery scarlet tones, sometimes kissed with subtle green feathering. As the blooms mature, their hues intensify and deepen, giving borders and beds a sense of fiery abundance at a time when most early tulips have already faded.

Reaching a sturdy 25–30 cm in height, this tulip is supported on thick, reliable stems capable of holding the weight of its heavy, fully double flowers. Its presence is bold, architectural, and luxurious, ensuring that planting schemes retain strong interest well into May. In Irish gardens, where Atlantic winds and spring showers often take a toll on lighter tulip forms, Orange Princess proves surprisingly resilient, its layered petals holding both shape and colour in damp or breezy conditions.

From a landscaping perspective, Orange Princess is a tulip of drama and theatre. In urban schemes or civic displays, it excels when planted in large drifts, where its fiery colouring demands attention and draws the eye across wide spaces. In private gardens, it thrives in borders, formal beds, and large containers, where its peony-like blooms bring richness and depth, especially when combined with later-flowering partners such as Allium Globemaster, Camassia leichtlinii, or fellow Double Lates like Blue Diamond. Pair it with the dusky tones of Queen of Night or the clean whites of Maureen for sophisticated, high-contrast planting.

Its biodiversity value is modest, as with most doubles: the tightly layered petals restrict easy access for bees compared to simpler tulip types. Still, it offers a small seasonal pollen source, and when combined with nectar-rich companions such as Muscari, Narcissus Thalia, or Scilla siberica, it can form part of a more ecologically supportive scheme. While fragrance is not a defining trait of Orange Princess, some gardeners report a light, sweet undertone detectable in warm, sheltered spot.

Overall, Orange Princess is a late-spring showstopper — a tulip that provides depth, longevity, and fiery energy just as other spring bulbs are fading. Hardy, dramatic, and richly coloured, it is equally suited to municipal bedding schemes, statement containers, or private borders where lasting late-season impact is essential.