Tulipa 'Apeldoorn'

Tulipa 'Apeldoorn'

	My favourite of the Tulips, I love the bright red opulence. The flowers open suddenly from fresh green buds like a sudden flash of colour in the garden. In the middle of the April garden, when there is colour everywhere, this effortlessly steals the show. I try to plant a few new bulbs every year, but it is getting harder and harder to obtain the real thing , and there is no substitute to compare with it. Bred by D. W. Lefeber & Co. and introduced in 1951. In 1983 the Van Tubergen catalogue said about the Darwin Hybrid tulips: "A fine group of sturdy Garden Tulips, originating from crosses between the longstemmed Darwin Tulips and the bright coloured Tulipa fosteriana." and added: " "Apeldoorn, vivid orange-scarlet blooms with black, yellow edged base on sturdy stems. One of the most popular Darwin hybrid tulips. Ht.26"." The description in the KAVB database (registrar for tulips) says: "Exterior cherry red, edged signal red, outer base yellow; inside signal red, base black, edged yellow, anthers black."
7th April 2017

American Meadows say:

"About Darwin Hybrid Tulips: Early in the 20th Century, a talented Dutch hybridizer named Lefeber worked long and hard with a wild tulip called "Tulipa fosteriana" from Central Asia. It is red, and from it, he hybridized the group that became known as the Emperor Tulips. The world-famous Red Emperor was introduced in 1931, and is what we now call a member of the "Fosteriana Tulip" group. In fact, Red Emperor's official variety name is "Madame Lefeber" in honor of the original hybridizer's wife.
Even though the Red Emperor and other fosterianas were instant sensations, the hybridizers were not satisfied. They were fascinated by what were then called simply "Darwin Tulips". These were large-flowered tulips in clear colors on tall stems, but without any perennial qualities. The Emperors, being close to a wild species, were quite perennial, so they crossed the two groups. And voila! Darwin Hybrid Tulips were born, with the best qualities of both groups.
Ever since, the Darwin Hybrids have set the standards worldwide for tall graceful, large flowered perennial tulips. Apeldoorn, the famous red tulip that is now No. 1 in the US, was introduced in 1951 by D. W. Lefeber and Company. There are not many Darwin Hybrids, even today. But they are every good gardener's favorites and always highly valued by florists."


10th April 2009	25th March 2012	29th March 2012	6th April 2012	17th April 2014

References:

American Meadows, https://www.americanmeadows.com/products/fall-tulip-flower-bulbs-apeldoorn-elite?srsltid=AfmBOoqnT0DPfHwh0A9LHGMzEVkj9cU7AgRNg7PSHibeAG25u_ELGA9B , accessed 09.02.2026.

KAVB database, https://www.kavb.nl/detail?cid=4443 , accessed 09.02.2026.