“Brown sugar how come you taste so good?” So sang the Rolling Stones. I doubt Mick Jagger was referring to this Triumph tulip with its caramel tones and butterscotch highlights. Sugary? Yes. Brown? No. Tasty? Definitely not! There are descriptions that call out the blooms’ earthy tones, but my eyes only see hints of rose-pink, coppery orange and Egyptian gold. My nose, on the other hand, can detect a modicum of muscovado, or perhaps it’s an updraft of demerara issuing from the open flowers.
A strong-stemmed, tall tulip, “Brown Sugar” can stand its own in the border or in a pot. It’s a wonderful partner for other oranges and for purples and plums, combining brilliantly with crown imperials. The blooms last and last in cool weather and as a cut flower, and are resistant to wind and rain, which is always helpful in the UK. They will eventually fade to a light-catching parchment colour at the edges. A thoroughbred amongst tulips, like The Rolling Stones it will stand the test of time, albeit it ageing a little more gracefully 😉
Bulbs of Tulipa “Brown Sugar” are widely available from late summer. I purchased mine from Sarah Raven and will be going back for more.
Have a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend. TFG
Categories: Bulbs, Container gardening, Flowers, Our Coastal Garden, Photography
Beautiful – extreme envy!
What a lovely name. I love this variety of tulips, makes me want to go back to Keukenhof, love your bulb garden.
Thank you Jody. Now that some of the other orange tulips have come out “Brown Sugar” is looking much bronzer, but still not brown!
Agree with Candy….total envy!!! So Master Flowers u have set the bar for yourself very high…….and created great expectations amongst us less talented frustrated mortals. Can’t wait to see the parrots emerge. Stunning Dan. Big congrats.👏🌹🍾👏
Hi Helen. Until today the nights have been quite cold, which means everything is developing very slowly. The parrots are on their way, looking very dramatic right now. Are your paperwhites out yet? Lots of love to Oz.
They are beautiful.
Thanks Val! I am hoping they last another three weeks or so to close the gap between spring and the summer tropical storm coming out.
The colour of those tulips is so rich!
It certainly is! Very 70s I always think.
Just glorious and certainly have set the bar high.
Do you often come home to find people admiring them and taking photos?!
They are hidden behind high walls and a huge gate, but if I leave the gate open I often catch passers by having a nose. I would let anyone who asked come and have a look 🙂
Simply stunning Dan…!
Thanks Anne. They are very striking tulips.
Wow!! Definitely candy for the eyes. What a treat to come home to! Thanks for the heads up on the Bank Holiday . . . perhaps I’ll declare one for myself over here on this side of the Atlantic.
I love the May Bank Holidays. If I time holidays right I can avoid working a 5 day stretch for almost 6 weeks!
Bliss!
Loving this one! I’ve turned up a bit late for the Bank Holiday message, hope yours was good 🙂
It was hard work! Our “knocking through” project finally starts this week, so I have been racing to get the garden sorted and re-home plants from next door. I am going back to work for a rest 😴
Good luck with the builders, should be good weather for you. 🙂