Tulip 'Chocolate Brown'

Tulip 'Chocolate Brown' is one of those wonderfully deceptive tulips, named for depth but glowing in the garden like polished copper, burnt orange and warm cinnamon. Its double blooms open into rounded, peony-like rosettes, each petal slightly ruffled and shaded with darker mahogany through the centre, so the colour feels rich rather than flat. In sunshine, Tulip 'Chocolate Brown' catches a molten gleam; in softer light, it takes on a smouldering, antique warmth. Against young green leaves, the warm tones look especially sumptuous. It is a splendid choice for anyone who enjoys spring colour with a little sophistication, and perhaps a small weakness for pudding-toned names.

Plant Tulip 'Chocolate Brown' in bold groups through borders or pots, where its velvety colouring can mingle with blue muscari, violet wallflowers, cream narcissi or fresh green euphorbias. The sturdy stems lift the full flowers cleanly above broad foliage, making Tulip 'Chocolate Brown' excellent for cutting, although it is almost too handsome to remove from the border without negotiation. Try it with apricot, plum and soft yellow tulips for a painterly late-spring scheme, or let it stand alone in a terracotta pot for quietly dramatic effect. Distinctive, warm and unexpectedly versatile, Tulip 'Chocolate Brown' brings depth to the display without ever looking heavy.