Taylors Bulbs Tulip Antique Fayre (12)

This combination pack pairs two award-winning double tulips for a rich, peony-like display in the border: 'Blue Diamond', with its fully double blooms of deep violet-blue fading softly at the petal edges, and 'Foxtrot', whose layered petals open almost white before deepening through soft pink to a rich rose. Both varieties carry a genuine, gentle fragrance, so the pairing rewards a spot near a path, patio or open window as much as it does further back in the border.

Flowering April to May on sturdy stems reaching around 25–40cm, this mix suits borders, beds and containers alike, and both varieties make excellent, long-lasting cut flowers for the house. Plant the bulbs in autumn, roughly 10–15cm deep and 10–15cm apart, in well-drained soil in full sun, choosing a sheltered spot where possible as the large double blooms can be knocked about by wind and rain. Deadhead once flowering finishes and leave the foliage to die back naturally to build strength for next year.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.