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.
-20%
Deluxe
Embellish the tiny spaces of your garden with clusters of jewel-like Tulip humilis 'Tête-a-Tête'. This is unbelievably flashy for a botanical tulip, not only is it multiheaded but it also has double blooms. With a very short and stocky stem, it’s perfect for pots or for nestling in among any little nooks at the front of a border. Plant them fairly close together and the overall effect isn’t too dissimilar to a luxurious cluster of rubies!
This short-stemmed variety (10-12cm) lays so low is flowers almost at ground level, if you have an exposed garden and like to play it safe when it comes to stem length, this is a good, vibrant option for you. If you’re wondering what to combine this glitzy tulip with, you can create a treasure chest of colour with companions like Narcissus 'Tête-a-Tête', Tulip 'Lilac Wonder' and Tulip 'Persian Pearl'. If you like to keep it a bit more simple, try combining Tulip humilis 'Tête-a-Tête' with one other botanical tulip variety, like Tulip 'Norah'—a mauve-pink and red combo really works!
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 humilis 'Tête-a-Tête'
- Tulip group
- Species or Botanical (15)
- Flower colour
- Red
- Bulb size
- 5/+
- Established height
- 10-20cm
- Established spread
- 5-10cm
- Growing skill
- Easy to grow
- Habit
- Upright
- Hardiness
- Fully hardy
- Leaf colour
- Green
- Mouse resistant
- No
- Plant spacing
- 100 bulbs per m2
- Pollinator friendly
- No
- Position
-
Sheltered
Exposed - 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
Coastal gardens
Cottage gardens
Low maintenance gardens - Sunlight
-
Full sun
Partial shade - Toxicity
-
Skin/eyes irritant
Harmful if eaten - Years to establish
- 1st year
Perfect for pots
RHS Recommended
Perennial
Fully hardy
Packed in paper
Low maintenance
-20%
Paeonia 'Lemon Chiffon'
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Allium azureum
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£3.12
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Allium 'Purple Sensation'
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Fritillaria meleagris 'Mix'
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Tulip 'Queen of Night'
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Sale price
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Narcissus 'Double Mixed'
Regular price
£5.25
Sale price
£7.50
Tulip 'Tête-a-Tête' reviews
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