Tulipa 'Purple Prince'
single early tulip
Garden origin (species from central Asia and Turkey)
Overview
Tulipa 'Purple Prince' is a Single Early tulip, a bulbous perennial in the lily family growing 12-16 inches (30-40 cm) tall. It grows from a bulb with a few broad, grey-green leaves at the base. In early to mid spring each sturdy stem carries a single, rounded, cup-shaped flower 2-3 inches (5-7.5 cm) long. The petals are purple to fuchsia-purple with a paler flush and a yellow-marked base inside, opening to a bowl in full sun. As a Single Early, it flowers ahead of mid- and late-season tulips and stands on short, weather-resistant stems. The flowers last about two weeks and close at night. Like other tulips, it grows from an autumn-planted bulb, flowers once in spring, and dies back to dormancy by early summer. All parts contain tuliposides and are toxic if eaten. One limitation is that flowering often weakens after the first year, so the bulbs are frequently treated as short-lived and replaced.
Native Range
Tulipa 'Purple Prince' is a garden cultivar of the Single Early group and does not occur in the wild. Garden tulips descend from species native to central Asia, Turkey, and the eastern Mediterranean.Suggested Uses
Used in spring bedding, mixed borders, and containers, and for cutting. The purple cups combine with white, yellow, and orange spring bulbs and with early perennials. It is grown massed for early-spring color.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1' - 1'4"
Width/Spread4" - 6"
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Flowering occurs in early to mid spring, generally April, ahead of mid- and late-season tulips. Each stem carries one cup-shaped flower that opens in sun and closes at night, lasting about two weeks. The short, sturdy stems stand up to wind and rain.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Purple to fuchsia-purpleFoliage Description
Grey-greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow Tulipa 'Purple Prince' in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Plant bulbs 6-8 inches (15-20 cm) deep in autumn after the soil cools. Wet summer soil rots dormant bulbs, so sharp drainage or lifting after the foliage dies back improves survival. A neutral to slightly alkaline pH of 6.0 to 7.5 suits it, and a low feed as growth starts supports flowering. Leave the foliage to die back to feed the bulb. Replace bulbs every few years as flowering weakens.Pruning
Remove the faded flower after bloom so the bulb does not set seed. Leave the leaves until they yellow and wither, then clear them. No other pruning is needed.Pruning Schedule
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
late springsummer
Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons