Plant tulip bulbs from October to mid-December, once the weather has cooled. Until then, store them somewhere cool, dry and safely away from mice and squirrels.
Tulip 'Queen of Night' is one of the most iconic near-black tulips, loved for its deep, velvety petals in shades of burgundy-purple that can appear almost black in certain light. As a single late tulip, it flowers towards the end of the tulip season, bringing a rich, dramatic note just as spring reaches its fullest expression. Planted in generous groups, the dark, near-black blooms of Tulip 'Queen of Night' create real depth in borders and pots, while pairing them with white, cream or soft pink tulips makes their colour look even more intense.
The beauty of Tulip 'Queen of Night' lies in the way its colour changes with the light. In shade, the petals can look close to pitch black; in brighter conditions, their underlying wine-purple tones become visible, giving the flowers a subtle luminosity rather than a flat, dark finish. This makes 'Queen of Night' one of the most distinctive black tulip varieties for sophisticated spring planting, whether you prefer a bold monochrome scheme or want to use its dark colouring as contrast among softer shades.
Its long, elegant stems also make 'Queen of Night' tulips excellent cut flowers. Grow enough bulbs to enjoy some in the garden and still have plenty to gather for the vase, where the near-black blooms bring an unusually refined, architectural quality to arrangements. Few tulips have the same combination of depth, drama and versatility, which is why Tulipa 'Queen of Night' bulbs remain such an enduring favourite among gardeners looking for something truly distinctive.
Quantity
Plant profile
Plant calendar
Choose full sun or partial shade. Improve heavy soil with organic matter and horticultural grit. For containers, use peat-free multipurpose compost with good drainage.
Plant bulbs pointed side upwards, 15–20cm deep and around 10cm apart. You can leave a little more space between them in borders.
Water once after planting to settle the soil. Border-grown tulips rarely need further watering, but containers should be kept lightly moist and never waterlogged.
Remove faded flowers, then allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally. This helps the bulbs store energy for the following year.
- Botanical name
- Tulipa 'Queen of Night'
- Tulip group
- Single late (5)
- Flower colour
- Near-black
- Bulb size
- 12/+
- Established height
- 50-70cm
- Established spread
- 10-20cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 60 bulbs per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
- Sheltered
- Rabbit resistant
- No
- Scented
- No
- Soil acidity
- Any
- Soil moisture
- Free draining
- Soil type
-
Loam
Sandy
Stony
Multipurpose compost
Loam-based compost - Suitable for
-
Pots
Large containers
Borders
Gravel gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens
Cut flower gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
-
Skin/eyes irritant
Harmful if eaten - Years to establish
- 1st year
Tulip 'Queen of Night' reviews
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Our horticulturalists prepare every bulb and plant with the utmost care. From selection to packing, each one receives expert attention before beginning its journey to your garden.