BLACK (?) TULIPS

[Lvandelft]

Because Zhirair (Boyed) made a note about black tulips, after I showed one in Weekly Lisse Flowershow,
I thought it might be interesting to show some black ones, which I pictured this spring
at the Connoisseur Collection.
I start with the one from Lisse. Then the next one followed by a selection which
stays longer black when flowering is almost over.
Then a range very dark ones, but not really black.

Tulipa black
Tulipa SLG Philippe de Comines
Tulipa SLG Black Horse  '02                             
Tulipa Triumph Group Lady Night H.v.Dr '07.                         
Tulipa Triumph Group Havran Av. Bu. '05 3                   
Tulipa Triumph Group Havran Av. Bu. '05     
Tulipa Triumph Group Black Jack  H.v.Dr. '06     
Tulipa Fringed Groep Black Jewel PCN '06   
Tulipa SLG Bacchus          (It's Bacchus, not Bucchus)                         
Tulipa SLG Zulu Hort. Bulb. '96 3                               

[Lvandelft]

In the second batch first a double black and a Parrot black,
followed after the most famous black tulip.
Out of this one there exists a white selection wich i liked very much.
The last one is for me and for Mr. Connoisseur the most black one
besides the one of the Flowershow ofcourse.


Tulipa DLG Black Hero v.T. '99 
Tulipa Parrot Group Black Parrot
Tulipa SLG Queen of Night
Tulipa SLG Queen of Night Mut. white 1                     
Tulipa SLG Queen of Night Mut. white 4                   
Tulipa SLG Black Beauty Frans Ro. '96     

[Maggi Young]

A most interesting series of photos, Luit.  The new black from Lisse show seems to be the most black... but, of course, it was a photo taken inside, whereas the others are in the Connoisseur's fields so perhaps the comparison is a little unfair. I am very taken by the shape of 'Havran', it is most elegant... but, and i am embarrasssed to say this when the subject is black tulips... but that white sport of Queen of the Night is the most beautiful of all. The colour to the edge of the petals and that stunning centre to the flower is just delicious!  Did I miss this one in the Connoisseur's collection photos?

[David Nicholson]

I suppose that growers will always strive to breed a pure black tulip but I think I prefer the dark reds.

[Lvandelft]

Maggi, I did make several hundreds more pictures, but I got the feeling,
there became less interest. So I am thinking of making shorter series
of some specials, when Forumists have special wishes.
And this note about 'blacks' was such an opportunity.
I do have pictures enough, though not all of the Collection.
And I still make more of the later flowering ones and also many late flowering Narcissus.

[Lesley Cox]

I agree that the Lisse one is the blackest, a real stunner. What is that speckling on its petals though?
And yes, I too think the white is a great beauty with her black heart.

[Roma]

I bought 10 Black Horse tulips last October from John (Jacques ) Amand at the SRGC Discussion weekend.  They are coming into flower now.  In one group of 5 , 3 have 3 flowering stems and 2 have 2.  The other group mostly have more than one flower.  Where there are 3 flowers two are the same size and the third one smaller and later.  The flowers are smaller than I would expect from newly planted bulbs.  I don't grow a lot of tulips but plant a few occasionally. I have never seen multiple flowering stems on tulips before. Have other Forum members seen this happen?

[Lvandelft]

I agree that the Lisse one is the blackest, a real stunner. What is that speckling on its petals though?
And yes, I too think the white is a great beauty with her black heart.

Lesley, the tulips were sprayed against Tulip fire.

[Boyed]

Maggi,

It is quite difficult to say what tulip is the blackest as the camera do not always catches the real colour and it also depend from the day time and conditions when the photo was taken. So far I know that the darkest 'black' tulips today is still very old and very small-flowered 'La Tulip Noir'.
'Havran' is, indeed, beautiful, having a nice elongated shape of flower. It is bred in Chzech pepublic by Vacklavic, as other famous tulips as 'Gavota' and 'Rajka', which have the same elegant shape.

Luit,
thanks a lot for the pictures.
I always wait for your wonderful photos with great pleasure and very happy that you are in this forum. Relating black tulips, one of our Russian breeders in Moscow grows  very blak tulip, called "Black Leader'. Soon I will show its pics when I'll be at the office. It is quite impressive. He grows many interesting cultivars, including many his own intriductions, which he registeres in Holland in collaboration with VERTUCO.

[Lvandelft]

I have never seen multiple flowering stems on tulips before. Have other Forum members seen this happen?

Well Roma, I'll show you some tulips which have multiple flowering stems.
Of the first one I was to late, there was only one single flower left.
Of the other ones several are still available.

Tulipa SLG Candy Club H.v.Dr. '02           
Tulipa SLG Claudette                     
Tulipa SLG Georgette             
Tulipa SLG Orange Georgette H.v.Dr. '94               
Tulipa SLG Roulette 2       
Tulipa SLG Wallflower 1           
Tulipa SLG Wallflower 2     
Tulipa Triumph Group Whole Family                         
Tulipa Triumph Group Orange Bouquette     

[Maggi Young]

I have no photo, but Tulipa 'Toronto' is multi-headed.... it is a salmon-pink colour

[Lvandelft]

Here is a photo, but I have only one of younger bulbs with single flowers.
As I already had one with a single flower, I didn't show it.
Here it is (for the records).
Tulipa Greigii Group Toronto

[Maggi Young]

hmm, that is not the one I mean... perhaps there is another, not a Greigii group?

[Lvandelft]

Maggi, I'm not sure about that.
Anna Pavord at least mentions the Greigii tulip,
which was raised in 1963 in the same place where I live, of which this
year appr. 26 Ha. is cultivated.
But there exists also a Double Toronto with multiple flowers, belonging to
the Double Early Group.
I may have my doubts that you are meaning this one....       

[Maggi Young]

No, Luit, not a double....
I "googled" and found these photos which show the colour mine were ....
two of these pix do show a greigii type, which mine were not 

http://www.pbase.com/peterasmith/image/93898344
http://shop.edenproject.com/khxc/gbu0-prodshow/PS-MANIA049.html
http://personal.inet.fi/luonto/amigo.jardin/Tulppaani_Toronto.htm


Actually, the first time I bought them, which I did because they were multi-headed, only one came with more than one flower. Overthe years they did grow but never made any more multi flowers... Then I got some more, which did multi flower, but they died out quicker than the first lot!

I will go now to see if I can find any still remaining under a bush!
........no, not a one left!