The Black Prince is a tulip variety whose flowers are painted in dark colors, from blue-black to deep purple. It belongs to decorative flowers and is grown to decorate gardens. In combination with other varieties, it looks very impressive and is great for decorating flower beds and flower arrangements. The flower is unpretentious in care, but has certain requirements. To grow it in your garden, you need to learn how to plant it correctly and take care of it in the future.

Description of the flower and the history of its derivation

Black tulip was first mentioned in the 17th century during the heyday of the “tulip mania” (1636-1637), the center of which is Holland. There is a version according to which dark varieties have spread from the Dutch city of Haarlem, where they, in fact, were bred. However, the color of this tulip was not completely black; a dark purple hue prevailed in it. It is also mentioned in oriental legends and legends.

In 1979, official selection studies of the dark tulip began. For crossing, Queen of the Night and Wiener Weld varieties were selected. Obtained in laboratory conditions, the variety visually appears resinous black, but in reality its petals shimmer with dark shades of purple.

In 1986, black tulip samples obtained by selection were grown in the laboratory of the National Institute of Floristry in Denmark. In February of the same year, the variety was officially introduced by the director of this institute.

Did you know? Breeding a black tulip cost $ 400,000.

The Black Prince variety belongs to the class of simple late plants. The dense and flexible stem has a height of about 60 cm. Saturated green leaves closer to the edges form light wavy bends. The only straight peduncle has a length of 36 cm. The oval, oblong flower is painted in dark purple. Perianth has whole-lobes. The bottom of the flower is of an indefinite, vague form.

The anthers of the flower are lilac, and the stamens are white.. Black tulip does not exude aroma, its petals do not crumble and do not change color under the influence of the sun. It blooms 10-12 days. It keeps fresh during transportation. Propagated by bulbs; they are oblong and dark brown.

The variety is resistant to heat and is recommended for breeding in the Krasnodar Territory. Resistance to diseases and pests is average. Flowering begins in mid-may

What are the varieties of dark tulip

Dark tulip is rich in a variety of varieties, each of which brings exotic notes to the flower gardens. These unusual monochrome flowers blend beautifully with brighter looks, shading their colors. Depending on the lighting, all varieties of the flower have a different color palette from dark purple to black-blue, but not one of them is endowed with perfectly black color.

Popular varieties of dark tulip:

1. Black jack. Belongs to the Triumph group, which is considered the most numerous. A classic-shaped purple bud never opens. A stalk about 60 cm high has a dense and flexible structure. Can be kicked out in the greenhouse. Flowering begins in late April - early May.
2. Ronaldo. Tulip of deep burgundy color. Differs in unpretentiousness in leaving. A sturdy stem and dense bud provide the flower with resistance to gusts of wind. It blooms in mid-spring. Suitable for planting in flowerbeds and for distillation in greenhouse conditions. The flower size is about 8 cm.
3. Queen of night. The queen of the night is valued for its deep burgundy color, as close to velvet black as possible. It blooms in May. The flower is quite large, about 9 cm, of a noble classical form. The stem is flexible and elegant. Its height reaches 65 cm. Tulip of this variety is not picky about light, suitable for growing in partial shade. Used to design bouquets and decor of flower beds.
4. Black and white. Relate to the old varieties of variegated tulips Rembrandt. The color of the petals is unusual, contrasting. The main color is lilac, at the base of the flower has a more saturated shade, and closer to the edges it brightens and smoothly turns into pure white. This variety should be grown with caution, since when it was bred it was infected with the variegated leaf virus. It must be planted separately from other flower plants in order to avoid their infection. Tulip of medium height, about 60 cm. Petals fully open in the presence of sunlight. It blooms in late spring. The height of the stem allows a cut.
5. Black beauty. The Black Beauty variety has an elegant classic bud of saturated dark color with a light moire hue. The standard size stalk is 65 cm. It blooms late in late spring. Decorates the gardens and looks great in a bouquet with brighter varieties.
6. Cuban night. The tulip variety, named after a hot Cuban night, blooms in late spring. Terry petals are painted in maroon shades. Persistent stems reach 50 cm in height. They can be cut to create bouquets, expelled in greenhouses and arrange flower arrangements in the garden.
7. Black hero. Terry late variety that blooms in late spring. The flower resembles a peony due to the large number of petals (15–20 pcs.). The color is maroon, almost black. Height is 50 cm.

Planting a Black Prince Tulip and Caring for It

For growing the Black Prince is suitable acid-free nutrient soil. Sandy soil meets these conditions. Acidic soil must be liming before planting. When choosing a place, it is advisable to avoid lowlands, since in the offseason a large amount of water accumulates there, which adversely affects the bulbs.

Tulips are not demanding on lighting, but a shadow can affect the speed of their development and appearance.

Did you know? Dark tulips are mentioned in the historical novel by A. Dumas “Black Tulip” (1850), which describes the version of the origin of this flower.

Begin planting in early autumn. At the same time, the temperature of the soil should not be lower than + 5 ° C. Tulips planted in spring develop worse and do not bloom in the first year.

Four weeks before planting, prepare the soil: to loosen and fertilize with a mixture of humus and compost in equal parts. Cover the area with film. In September, you can start planting.

Video: Planting Tulips in Autumn

Planting material can be obtained from previously planted bulbs. To do this, they need to be dug, then sorted out, removing diseased bulbs. You can determine the presence of disease by removing the husk. Further the bulbs should be treated with a solution of potassium permanganate 0.5%. Processing will protect tulips from fungal diseases.

Landing pattern:

1. Dig holes corresponding to the size of three bulbs. The width should be sufficient to accommodate 3-5 large bulbs located at a distance of at least 10 cm from each other.
2. Plant strictly downside down. Bulbs should not be pressed into the ground; it is enough to place them so that there is no void under them.
3. Cover the ground without tamping.
4. Flatten the plot.

Important! Bulbs should be planted no less than a month before the onset of the first cold weather. This time is enough for them to take root and survive the frosts.

You can plant in groups, rows and staggered. In anticipation of cold weather, the landing site must be sprinkled with mulch: leaves and sawdust in equal parts.

In order for the tulips to bloom and continue to multiply, they must be dug up every season and transplanted to a new place. You need to take care of them from the moment the first sprouts appear. In this case, not rooted bulbs need to be dug.

Video: How to dig and store tulips

Watering

During the ripening period of buds and subsequent flowering, it is necessary to ensure regular soil moisture. Watering must be continued for two weeks after the tulips bloom. On 1 m² of landing area, 20-30 liters of water is required. Watering is necessary at the base of the stem, so as not to burn the young leaves.

Important! An excess and stagnation of moisture in the soil can lead to rotting of the bulbs and their death.

You can save moisture after watering by loosening the soil around the flowers. Timely weeding will protect against weed formation and also helps maintain soil moisture.

Fertilizer

For full development and long-term flowering, tulips need to be fertilized. In this case, it is necessary to follow some rules and recommendations.

Fertilizer is applied three times:

1. First time - immediately after germination of the first shoots. For this, loose fertilizers are distributed around the flowers: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the calculation of 2 × 2 × 1. 50 g of fertilizer should be spent on 1 m² of area. Then the site must be watered.
2. After the appearance of the buds the soil is fertilized with a solution of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the calculation of 1 × 2 × 2. Fertilizing should be distributed at a rate of 30 g per 1 m² of landing area.
3. Last time fertilize after the tulips have bloomed. For this, a solution of potassium and phosphorus is used, based on the calculation of 1 × 1. The total volume should be 30 g per 1 m².

To improve the development of bulbs to be used for transplanting, fertilizer mix can be supplemented with boron and zinc.

Black tulips are used to decorate flower beds and flower gardens. These exotic twilight flowers are associated with the subtle grace of the East and are often mentioned in Arabic tales. But you can grow tulips of the Black Prince variety on an ordinary site, with rich fertile soil and sufficient lighting for growth and development. Planting them is easy, it is enough to adhere to simple rules.