SKU: 00840369421906 10 Negrita Parrot Tulip (Tulipa 'Negrita Parrot') Bulbs

Plant Features & Growing Information

• Growth Habit: Upright, bulbous herbaceous perennial belonging to the Parrot Tulip Group. Plants produce broad, strap-like foliage and sturdy flowering stems topped with exceptionally large, elaborately ruffled blossoms.

• Mature Size: Typically grows approximately 16–20 inches tall, with an upright, relatively narrow habit. Mature height can vary somewhat with climate, soil fertility, and growing conditions.

• Bloom Color: Produces magnificent deep purple, violet-purple, plum, and beetroot-purple flowers, often displaying darker veining and occasional green feathering or flashes along the exterior petals.

• Flower Form: Large, extravagant Parrot-type flowers featuring deeply ruffled, fringed, curled, and irregularly sculpted petals. Flowers become increasingly open and dramatic as they mature.

• Bloom Time: Blooms during mid- to late spring, generally from April into May depending on climate. Negrita Parrot can flower somewhat earlier than some other Parrot Tulips.

• Fragrance: Little to no significant fragrance. Negrita Parrot is grown primarily for its spectacular flower color, enormous blossoms, and exotic feathered form rather than scent.

• Fruit Flavor: Not grown for edible fruit. Pollinated flowers may eventually form dry seed capsules, but these have no desirable flavor or culinary value.

• Culinary Uses: Not recommended for consumption. Negrita Parrot is an ornamental tulip and should not be treated as an edible plant. The bulbs, flowers, foliage, and seeds should not be used for food, beverages, or edible decorations.

• Medicinal Uses: Negrita Parrot Tulip has no established safe medicinal applications. Tulips contain naturally occurring compounds capable of irritating the skin and digestive tract and should not be used in homemade herbal preparations.

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

• Possible Toxicity to Humans: Harmful if eaten, particularly the bulbs. Tulip bulbs can cause nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms if consumed. Handling tulips repeatedly can also cause contact dermatitis or an allergic skin reaction sometimes called “tulip fingers.” Wearing gloves when planting bulbs is recommended.

• Wildlife Resistance: Not reliably deer- or rabbit-resistant. Deer may readily browse tulip flowers and foliage, while rabbits can damage young growth.

• Rodent Resistance: Poor. Squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and voles may dig up or consume tulip bulbs, especially soon after fall planting.

• Pollinator Value: Open flowers may occasionally be visited by bees and other spring pollinators, although highly modified Parrot Tulips are grown primarily for ornamental value.

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

• Disease Concerns: Tulips may be susceptible to tulip fire, bulb rot, and other fungal diseases, particularly where soil remains excessively wet. Good drainage, clean gardening practices, and avoiding overcrowding help reduce disease problems.

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

• Sun Preferences: Performs best in full sun, ideally receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight daily. Light partial shade is tolerated, but excessive shade may produce weaker stems and fewer flowers.

• Wind Protection: Although Negrita Parrot develops relatively sturdy stems, its exceptionally large flowers can become heavy after rainfall. A sheltered location protected from severe wind and pounding rain helps preserve the flowers.

• Drought Tolerance: Moderate during summer dormancy but low to moderate during active growth. Keep soil moderately moist during spring growth and flowering, then allow conditions to become considerably drier after foliage dies back.

• Soil Preferences: Prefers fertile, loose, well-drained soil. Sandy loam is excellent. Heavy clay should be amended or bulbs planted in raised beds to prevent prolonged moisture around the bulbs.

• Growth Rate: Rapid during spring. Bulbs remain dormant underground for much of the year before quickly producing foliage, flowering stems, and blossoms as temperatures warm.

• Perennializing Ability: Variable. Negrita Parrot may return for several seasons under favorable conditions, but Parrot Tulips generally do not perennialize as reliably as many species tulips. For consistently large flowers, many gardeners plant fresh bulbs each fall.

• Cut Flower Uses: Excellent. The enormous jewel-toned blossoms make Negrita Parrot a spectacular cut flower. Harvest stems when buds are fully colored but only beginning to open.

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

When & How to Prune

• Deadheading: Remove faded flowers after blooming to prevent unnecessary seed production.

• After Flowering: Cut the spent flower head away, but leave the flower stem and all healthy foliage in place.

• Leave Green Foliage: Do not remove green leaves immediately after flowering. They continue photosynthesizing and returning energy to the bulb.

• Final Cutback: Wait until the leaves and stems naturally turn yellow or brown, generally several weeks after flowering. They can then be removed at ground level.

• Do Not Braid Foliage: Avoid braiding, tying, or bundling green tulip leaves. Maximum leaf exposure to sunlight helps replenish the bulb.

Planting Instructions from Bulbs into the Ground

• Best Planting Time: Plant Negrita Parrot bulbs during mid- to late fall, generally from October through November or until the ground freezes. Waiting until soil temperatures have cooled can also help reduce certain tulip disease problems.

• Choose the Location: Select a site receiving full sun to light partial shade with excellent drainage. A sheltered location is especially beneficial for protecting the cultivar's large flowers from strong spring winds.

• Prepare the Soil: Loosen soil approximately 10–12 inches deep and remove weeds, rocks, and compacted material. Incorporate compost into poor soil if necessary, while making sure drainage remains excellent.

• Planting Depth: Plant bulbs approximately 6–8 inches deep, measured from the soil surface to the base of the bulb. In very cold climates or loose sandy soil, slightly deeper planting may provide additional protection.

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

• Spacing: Space bulbs approximately 4–6 inches apart.

• Plant in Groups: For maximum impact, plant Negrita Parrot in clusters of 10–20 or more bulbs. Large groups create a spectacular sweep of rich purple color.

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

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

• Fall & Winter Watering: Natural rainfall is usually sufficient. Provide supplemental moisture during unusually dry periods but never allow the bulbs to sit in saturated soil.

• Mulching: Apply approximately 2–3 inches of mulch after soil temperatures cool. Mulch helps moderate winter temperature fluctuations and suppress weeds.

• Fertilization: In poor soils, apply a balanced bulb fertilizer according to label directions at planting or as growth emerges in spring. Avoid excessive nitrogen.

• Protecting Bulbs from Wildlife: Where squirrels and other rodents are troublesome, protect newly planted bulbs with wire mesh or bulb cages. Repellents may provide temporary protection but are generally less dependable than physical barriers.

Warm-Climate Planting

• Chilling Requirement: Tulips require an extended period of cool temperatures to initiate strong spring flowering.

• Zones 8–9: Plant later in fall after temperatures have cooled. Pre-chilled bulbs may be necessary where winters do not provide sufficient natural chilling.

• Very Warm Climates: Negrita Parrot is usually most dependable when treated as an annual, using properly chilled bulbs each season.

• Pre-Chilling: If bulbs require artificial chilling, refrigerate them according to supplier recommendations before planting.

• Keep Away from Fruit: Do not refrigerate tulip bulbs alongside apples, bananas, pears, or other ripening fruit. Fruit releases ethylene gas, which can damage developing flower buds inside the bulbs.

Overwintering & Seasonal Care

• Fall: Plant bulbs after soil temperatures cool and water thoroughly.

• Winter: Bulbs remain underground while developing roots. Little care is required, but excellent drainage remains essential.

• Early Spring: Broad green foliage begins emerging. Maintain moderate moisture during active growth.

• Mid- to Late Spring: Dramatic purple flowers appear and gradually unfurl their feathered, ruffled petals.

• After Blooming: Deadhead spent flowers while retaining the foliage and stems.

• Late Spring/Early Summer: Allow foliage to yellow and die naturally.

• Summer Dormancy: Bulbs prefer warm, relatively dry conditions during dormancy. Excessive summer irrigation can encourage rot.

• Following Fall: Healthy bulbs may remain in the ground and flower again, although flowering quality can gradually decline.

Additional Growing Tips

Negrita Parrot Tulip looks especially dramatic alongside white tulips, blush-pink tulips, pale yellow daffodils, blue Muscari, white alliums, and silver-leaved perennials. Its rich purple coloring also makes it an exceptional addition to sophisticated jewel-toned garden designs.

For a breathtaking display, plant Negrita Parrot bulbs in generous clusters rather than scattering individual plants throughout the landscape. A concentrated planting emphasizes the unusual ruffled flowers and creates a much stronger visual impact.

Cut Flower Tip: Harvest stems once the buds have developed their full purple color but before the flowers completely unfold. Tulips continue growing after being cut, and their stems may gracefully curve and twist in arrangements.

Weather Tip: Parrot Tulips have exceptionally large petals that can collect rainwater. Planting in a sheltered position helps prevent flowers from becoming excessively heavy during spring storms.

Perennializing Tip: To encourage bulbs to return, deadhead immediately after flowering, allow foliage to die naturally, and keep the planting area relatively dry during summer dormancy.

Safety Reminder: Tulip bulbs contain the highest concentration of the plant's toxic compounds. Keep unplanted bulbs securely away from children and pets and wear gloves while handling them.