Pink and White Bicolour Tulip Bulbs, Cream Petals Feathered in Pink, Hardy Fall Planting Varieties for Borders, Vase Arrangements and Yard Decor

1. Cream Petals Feathered in Pink

The base of each petal is creamy white and the pink rises from the tip in soft brushstrokes, so the pattern varies slightly from bloom to bloom. From a distance the effect is a warm, gently faded pink; close up it reads as two distinct colours. Cups are 5-6 cm across on 35-45 cm stems, opening wider in sun and closing into neat ovals at dusk.

2. Autumn Planting, Six Inches Deep

Plant from late September to early November, once soil temperatures drop below 13 C. Set bulbs 15 cm deep with the pointed tip up and 12 cm apart. Because pale petals show every mark, choose a spot where late frost and drip from eaves will not batter them; a sheltered border or a pot that can be moved is ideal. Full sun to light afternoon shade both work.

3. Drainage and the Cold Period

Free-draining soil at pH 6.0-7.0 keeps the bulbs healthy; standing water in winter is what kills them, not cold. Add grit to the base of the planting hole on heavier ground. The bulbs need 12 to 14 weeks below 10 C to form a complete flower. In zones 9-10, pre-chill in the refrigerator for eight weeks before planting and keep the pots cool afterwards.

4. Spring Watering and Feeding

Water at planting, then wait for shoots. Keep soil evenly moist from emergence to flowering, about 2 cm a week, and avoid wetting the open blooms because water marks the pale petals. Feed a low-nitrogen bulb fertiliser at 5 cm of growth; a second light feed when buds show colour can extend the flowering period by a week or more. Withhold water once petals drop.

5. Post-Bloom Care for Next Spring

Deadhead as the petals fall, leaving stem and leaves. The foliage needs six to eight weeks of full sun to yellow naturally before you cut it at ground level, because that is what feeds next year’s bulb. If you want the bed tidy sooner, interplant with annuals rather than cutting the tulip leaves early. Lift and divide clumps only when flowering thins, usually every third or fourth year.