Tulips for spring? Groundbreaking.
Eastern Ontario, Canada is finally seeing signs of life! We went from freezing rain to +30C in a matter of days, and though our immune systems are getting a bit of a shock…
the plants have risen from their coffins.
Tulips have always been a special flower for Canada specifically, dating back to World War II when Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and her two daughters took refuge in Ottawa. During her stay, she birthed a third daughter, Princess Margriet, declaring Ottawa as Dutch soil to allow her nationality exclusively. When they returned to the Netherlands in 1945, Princess Juliana thanked the Canadian people with a multitude of gifts, including a whopping 100,000 tulip bulbs. The Dutch royal family made this a tradition and has sent tulip bulbs to Ottawa every year since, inspiring our annual Tulip Festival held in the downtown area of Ottawa which has been active since 1953.
So yeah, us Canadians take our tulips VERY seriously. Almost every yard you pass by there will be at least 1 tulip sprouting up from the ground, appearing in every hue and colour in the rainbow. Sure, the colours are stunning, we love her… But for a goth who is seeking darkness? Not so much.
We’ve all heard about “Queen of the Night” Tulips, a stunning and deep maroon tulip that stands out amongst the vibrant colours, but what else can we add that will make the atmosphere even darker? After growing dark tulips for 8 years, it’s safe to say I have found the perfect collection of hauntingly dark varieties that make everyone shriek with delight.
Let’s get into it.
Planting: Tulips are to be planted in fall in order to bloom in spring
Zones: 3-8
Lighting: Full Sun, Partial Shade
Queen of the Night
Queen of the Night tulips are elegant, single late tulips with tall stems and classic, goblet-shaped blooms. They are also the easiest black tulips to find, widely available in garden centers, bulb catalogs, and online stores.
Black Fringed Tulips
(Other name “Black Parrot”)
Same beauty and colour as the Queen of the Night tulips except the petals are twisted, feathered, and fringed, giving the blooms an exotic, parrot-like shape rather than the smooth cup form of a classic tulip.
Black Hero Tulips
Black Hero tulips are large, peony-like double tulips with full, rounded blooms packed with layered petals. They are among the darkest double tulips, appearing nearly black in shade, while sunlight reveals deep maroon, plum, and burgundy undertones with a subtle satin sheen.
Paul Scherer Tulips
Paul Scherer tulips have a classic, upright tulip shape with smooth, egg- to goblet-shaped blooms on strong stems. They are prized as one of the darkest tulips available, often appearing nearly black, though their true colour is a very deep purple-black or black-eggplant. In brighter light, they may reveal subtle burgundy, maroon, or plum undertones.
bonus: Blood Spattered Tulips – carnival de nice
Carnival de Nice tulips are large, double late tulips with full, peony-like blooms. Their creamy white petals are boldly streaked and splashed with deep crimson-red, giving them a dramatic, almost blood-splattered appearance.
