SKU: 00840369421890 10 Eagle Wings Parrot Tulip Bulbs

Plant Features & Growing Information

• Growth Habit: Upright, bulbous herbaceous perennial belonging to the Parrot Tulip Group. Plants develop broad, strap-like foliage and sturdy flowering stems topped by large, elaborately ruffled flowers. Typically grows approximately 16–18 inches tall.

• Bloom Color: Predominantly bright golden to lemon yellow with distinctive green flames, streaks, and feathered markings. The unusual combination of yellow and green gives the flowers a fresh, tropical appearance.

• Flower Form: Large, single Parrot-type flowers with deeply ruffled, fringed, curled, and irregularly cut petals. As the flowers mature and open wider, the twisting petals become increasingly dramatic.

• Bloom Time: Typically flowers during late spring, often around May, depending on climate and planting location. Parrot Tulips are generally among the later tulips to bloom.

• Fragrance: Little to no noticeable fragrance. Eagle Wings is grown primarily for its spectacular flower form and coloring rather than scent.

• Fruit Flavor: Not grown for edible fruit. Tulips may form dry seed capsules after successful pollination, but these have no desirable fruit flavor or culinary value.

• Culinary Uses: Not recommended for consumption. Although tulip petals and bulbs have occasionally been used historically as emergency food, modern ornamental tulips should not be considered edible plants. Eagle Wings is intended strictly for ornamental use.

• Medicinal Uses: Eagle Wings Parrot Tulip has no established safe medicinal applications. Tulips contain naturally occurring compounds that can irritate the skin and digestive system and should not be used in homemade herbal remedies.

• Possible Toxicity to Pets: Toxic to cats, dogs, and horses if ingested. Tulips contain tulipalin compounds, with the highest concentrations found in the bulbs. Ingestion may cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, and gastrointestinal discomfort.

• Possible Toxicity to Humans: Potentially harmful if eaten. Tulip bulbs contain the greatest concentration of irritating compounds and can cause nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal discomfort, and other symptoms. Repeated handling may also cause an allergic skin reaction sometimes known as “tulip fingers.” Wearing gloves when planting bulbs is recommended, particularly for individuals with sensitive skin.

• Wildlife Resistance: Not reliably deer-, rabbit-, or rodent-resistant. Deer may browse the flowers, while squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and voles may dig up or eat newly planted bulbs.

• Pollinator Value: Open tulip flowers may be visited by bees and other spring pollinators, although highly modified Parrot Tulips are generally planted primarily for ornamental rather than pollinator value.

• Pest Resistance: Generally easy to grow but may occasionally experience aphids, slugs, snails, and bulb or stem nematodes. Squirrels and other rodents can be a significant problem with newly planted bulbs.

• Disease Concerns: Poorly drained soil can encourage bulb rot, while tulips may also be susceptible to fungal diseases such as tulip fire. Excellent drainage and good garden sanitation help reduce disease problems.

• USDA Planting Zones: Generally suitable for USDA Zones 3–8. Tulips perform best in climates with cold winters and relatively cool spring weather.

• Sun Preferences: Performs best in full sun, ideally receiving approximately 6 or more hours of direct sunlight daily. Light partial shade is tolerated, especially in warmer regions.

• Wind Protection: Because Parrot Tulips produce exceptionally large flowers, Eagle Wings benefits from a sheltered planting location protected from strong winds and severe spring storms. Heavy rain can also weigh down fully opened flowers.

• Drought Tolerance: Moderately drought tolerant during summer dormancy, but not during active spring growth. Maintain moderate moisture while leaves and flowers are developing, then allow conditions to become drier after foliage dies back.

• Soil Preferences: Prefers fertile, loose, well-drained soil. Sandy or loamy soil is particularly suitable. Avoid low-lying areas or heavy soils where water remains around the bulbs.

• Growth Rate: Fast during its spring growing season. Bulbs remain dormant underground for much of the year before rapidly producing foliage, stems, and flowers in spring.

• Perennializing Ability: Variable. Eagle Wings can return for additional seasons when grown under favorable conditions, but highly bred Parrot Tulips do not always perennialize as reliably as species tulips. For the largest and most dependable floral display, many gardeners treat them as premium annual bulbs and replant fresh bulbs each fall.

• Cut Flower Uses: Excellent. Eagle Wings makes an extraordinary cut flower thanks to its large, feathered yellow-and-green blossoms. Cut stems when the buds have developed full color but are only beginning to open.

• Landscape Uses: Excellent for cottage gardens, formal flower beds, cutting gardens, mixed borders, mass plantings, spring containers, and focal-point displays.

When & How to Prune

• After Flowering: Once the blossom has faded, remove the spent flower head or cut the flower stalk back. Deadheading prevents the plant from spending unnecessary energy developing seeds.

• Leave the Foliage: Do not remove the green leaves after flowering. They continue photosynthesizing and storing energy inside the bulb for the following year's growth.

• Final Cutback: Wait until the foliage has naturally turned completely yellow or brown, usually several weeks after flowering. At that point, gently remove the leaves or cut them back to ground level.

• Avoid Braiding Leaves: Do not braid, tie, or bundle green tulip foliage. Keeping the leaves exposed to sunlight helps the bulb store as much energy as possible.

Planting Instructions from Bulbs into the Ground

• Best Planting Time: Plant Eagle Wings bulbs in fall, generally from September through November or until the ground freezes. Ideally, plant after soil temperatures have cooled substantially but while the ground is still workable.

• Choose the Location: Select a location receiving full sun to light partial shade. Because of the cultivar's large Parrot-type flowers, a location protected from strong wind is particularly beneficial.

• Prepare the Soil: Loosen the planting area approximately 10–12 inches deep. Remove weeds, rocks, and debris and amend heavy soil if necessary to improve drainage.

• Planting Depth: Plant bulbs approximately 6–8 inches deep, measured from the soil surface to the base of the bulb.

• Bulb Orientation: Position each bulb with the pointed end facing upward and the broad, flattened root plate facing downward.

• Spacing: Space bulbs approximately 4–6 inches apart. Closer spacing creates a fuller floral display, while slightly wider spacing allows more room between individual plants.

• Plant in Groups: For maximum visual impact, plant Eagle Wings in clusters of 10–20 or more bulbs. Large sweeps showcase the unusual yellow-and-green flowers far better than isolated individual plants.

• Backfill: Cover bulbs with the loosened soil and gently firm the surface without heavily compacting it.

• Water After Planting: Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil and encourage fall root development.

• Fall & Winter Watering: Natural rainfall is generally sufficient once bulbs become established. Provide supplemental water during unusually dry conditions, but avoid keeping the soil saturated.

• Mulching: Apply approximately 2–3 inches of mulch after the soil cools. Mulch can moderate soil temperatures and help prevent repeated freezing and thawing.

• Fertilization: If the soil is poor, apply a balanced bulb fertilizer according to label directions during fall planting or as shoots begin emerging. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which can encourage foliage at the expense of flowers.

• Protecting Bulbs from Wildlife: Tulip bulbs are attractive to squirrels and other rodents. If wildlife pressure is severe, cover the planting area with securely anchored wire mesh or plant bulbs inside protective bulb cages.

Warm-Climate Planting

• Winter Chilling: Tulips require a substantial period of cold temperatures to produce their best flowers.

• Zones 8–9: Plant bulbs later in fall once soil temperatures have cooled. Depending on local winter temperatures, pre-chilled bulbs may provide more reliable flowering.

• Very Warm Climates: Where winters do not provide adequate chilling, tulips are usually most successful when treated as annuals and replanted with properly chilled bulbs each season.

• Refrigerating Bulbs: When pre-chilling is necessary, keep tulip bulbs in a refrigerator away from apples, pears, bananas, and other ripening fruit. Ethylene released by fruit can damage developing flower buds inside the bulbs.

Overwintering & Seasonal Care

• Fall: Plant bulbs after temperatures cool. Water thoroughly and allow roots to develop before winter.

• Winter: Bulbs remain underground during dormancy and require little attention. Avoid locations that remain excessively wet during winter.

• Early Spring: Broad green leaves emerge as temperatures warm. Maintain moderate soil moisture during active growth.

• Late Spring: Large yellow-and-green Parrot flowers emerge and gradually unfurl into spectacular feathered blossoms.

• After Blooming: Deadhead finished flowers but retain all healthy foliage.

• Early Summer: Allow foliage to yellow and die naturally before removing it.

• Summer Dormancy: Bulbs prefer warm, relatively dry conditions while dormant. Excessive summer irrigation can encourage bulb rot.

• Following Fall: Bulbs that remain healthy may produce another spring display, although flower size and vigor can decline over time.

Additional Growing Tips

Eagle Wings Parrot Tulip is particularly striking when planted with dark purple tulips, white tulips, blue Muscari, purple alliums, and white or yellow daffodils. Its unusual green markings also make it a wonderful companion for foliage plants.

For the most dramatic effect, plant Eagle Wings in a generous group rather than scattering individual bulbs throughout the garden. A concentrated planting allows its spectacular yellow-and-green flowers to create a bold focal point.

Cut Flower Tip: Harvest Eagle Wings when the flower bud is fully colored but has not completely opened. Tulip stems often continue to elongate and curve after being cut, creating a graceful, natural appearance in arrangements.

Weather Tip: Parrot Tulips have larger, heavier flowers than many traditional tulips. Planting Eagle Wings in a location sheltered from strong winds and pounding rain helps prevent stems from bending and protects the elaborately ruffled petals.

Perennializing Tip: If you want to encourage bulbs to return, remove spent flowers promptly, leave foliage until completely yellow, and keep the planting area relatively dry during summer dormancy.

Safety Reminder: Tulip bulbs contain the highest concentration of the plant's irritating compounds. Store unplanted bulbs securely away from children and pets and wear gloves when handling large quantities.