The Amazing French Tulip

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite tulips on the farm...the spectacular, breath-taking, and singular French Tulip.  Before I continue my hymn of praise, I should probably explain why this particular tulip is so fantastic.  French tulips are unique because they are the tallest and biggest of the tulips.  And when I say tall, I mean over two feet tall, and when I say big, I mean blooms the size of an adult hand.

So how do they grow so tall and have the largest bud size on tulip record? Aside from stellar coastal weather (cool days and nights) and tried-and-true hoop house management, the original French Tulip arose from a floral mutation over 80 years ago.

Freshly picked French Tulips tower over their crates (see photo on left)

Mrs. Scheepers

French Tulips are mutations of a Single Late Tulip (SLT) variety, known as Mrs. John T. Scheepers.  This is the big, bright, yellow tulip that has been referred to as “The Mother of all Tulips.” Where did this "Mother" come from?

It came from John Theodore Scheepers, a Dutchman who arrived to the United States in 1897, at the ripe age of 19.  Within a few years he founded his own flower bulb importing company, John Scheepers, Inc., which revolutionized the bulb industry in America.  He has been credited with introducing new garden design concepts, such as mass bulb plantings, as well as establishing the tulip as a central spring motif.  Because of his efforts, the importation and use of Dutch flower bulbs increased tremendously for decades, and Scheepers earned the moniker, "The Tulip King." 

In 1930, Scheepers introduce the tetraploid hybrid tulip, Mrs. John T. Scheepers (so named for his wife Rose Dorothy Heywood).  Tetraploid varieties contain twice as many chromosomes and twice as much genetic material as "normal" tulip varieties.  This means it is a "super-tulip" -- super-tall, super-strong, super-colorful.

 This is why we have branded our French Tulips, Redwood Grove.  It seems only fitting to name them after the tallest, strongest trees in the world that also share our Northern California shores.
 
We have been growing French Tulips for decades, and while we offer them year-round, we also plant and plan our varieties and colors in accordance with the seasons.  Below are the varieties we will be offering this Spring -- some are renowned favorites (Avignon, Clearwater, Flaming Parrot) and a few are exciting new offerings (Jonquires, Gigondas).

Joining the 22 tulips above are 5 varieties from our exclusive "Pride Series." Breeders of the Pride Series only grant permission to one grower per tulip producing nation to grow their Pride Tulips, and in the United States, we are it! Quantities are limited, so if you want a truly unique French Tulip, call your sales rep soon. Coming in from the fields this spring will be apricot, bi-color, coral, purple, and red .

This Spring, why not "go big?" Try our French Tulips and have fun playing with their height, or cut them short and make their big blooms the focal point.  Create elegant centerpieces, interesting and fun designs, or simply place them in a vase by themselves and enjoy the spectacular and singular beauty that is all their own.