Best tulips to plant: 24 from Belcombe Court

By Daniel Griffiths

Published: Tuesday, 22 March 2022 at 12:00 am

The Weilands have been at Belcombe Court for nearly 30 years. The elegant house and the outbuildings standing around it, form a rambling cluster of mellow Bath stone. Beyond the ha-ha enclosing the garden, parkland rises quite steeply to woodlands beyond. What with grottoes and temples, ponds and waterfalls, as well as an acre and a half of walled kitchen garden, owner Paul Weiland has never had to worry that the projects will run out.

In brief

What Small, landscape park of the 18th century, with areas of modern planting. Where Wiltshire. Size Garden area of about four acres adjoining parkland and wood of more than 50 acres. Soil Stony brash. Climate temperate, Hardiness zone USDA 9a.

 

 

"Gravel
Gravel paths lead down the sloping walled garden to the lowest level. These long lower terraces, edged by low box hedging and espaliered fruit trees – a hallmark of Arne Maynard’s designs – are used for growing cutting flowers for the house, while more tender bulbs for house displays are nurtured in the new glasshouse.
© Jason Ingram
"The
The walled garden, designed by Arne Maynard, is dominated by huge mounds of clipped box and yew. A crab apple brings early bloom alongside one of the gravelled paths that run down each side of the garden. Borders here are planted with masses of rosemary and iris with a sprinkle of tulips for spring.
© Jason Ingram
"The
The big walled garden lies on a steep south-facing slope behind the house. At the bottom end are two long box-edged beds, planted with a mass of tulips and other flowers for cutting. More tulips are crammed into pots that line the paths on either side.
© Jason Ingram
"Facing
Facing page, From the enclosed, cobbled courtyard behind the house, stone steps curve gently to the path that leads to the greenhouse. Domes of clipped box and yew sit between exuberant clumps of spurge (Euphorbia characias subsp. wulfenii.), with multi-stemmed amelanchiers and a magnolia behind.
© Jason Ingram
"The
The domed rotunda, dating from the middle of the 18th century, sits on a hillock made perhaps with the earth excavated to form the small lake that curves round its foot. Beyond are handsome iron railings marking the junction between the garden and the parkland beyond.
© Jason Ingram
"Looking
Looking west from the house towards the park, the full drama of the Regency grotto comes into view. Made of tufa, it overlooks the lake, fed by a natural waterfall, cascading down on the left of the grotto entrance. Inside, a curving, dark passage is furnished with a stone seat.
© Jason Ingram
"The
The handsome south front of Belcombe Court, added by the architect John Wood in 1734, looks out over lawn studded with spring bulbs growing under an ancient cedar. Beyond, to the left, lie the domed rotunda and the little cottage orne, made in the Gothic style.
© Jason Ingram

24 Key Tulips from Belcombe Court

 

Tulipa ‘Mistress Mystic’

""
Tulipa ‘Mistress Mystic’ A very prettily shaped tulip, the petals curving out
slightly at the top. Complex shades of violet, veined over a very pale pink.
Flowers late April. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Burning Heart’

""
Tulipa ‘Burning Heart’ Huge flowers, variable in their markings. Some are
pale cream, streaked with red, others are flushed all over with red. Inner petals are more strongly marked than outer. Flowers April to May. 55cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Merlot

""
Tulipa ‘Merlot’ A tall, elegant tulip of the Lily-Flowered type, with petals
that reflex slightly at their tips. Classically formed – a tulip of great poise. Flowers in late April. 65cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Ronaldo’

""
Tulipa ‘Ronaldo’ The beauty of this Triumph tulip lies in the complex, greyish bloom
on the outside of the huge, rounded deep crimson petals. It makes a handsome, squareish flower that blooms in mid-April. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Flaming Spring Green’

""
Tulipa ‘Flaming Spring Green’ This viridiflora type is a mutation of the popular ‘Spring Green’. But rather than just green feathering, the creamy-white petals also include flares of red. A late-season option, flowering in May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Grand Perfection’

""
Tulipa ‘Grand Perfection’ An attempt to get close to the Rembrandt tulips of Dutch Old Master paintings, with broad flashes of red spreading over a creamy background. Flowers in late April. 45cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Slawa’

""
Tulipa ‘Slawa’ A handsome and dramatic tulip, with a tall, slightly waisted
flower. The petals are almost striped, deep purple in the centre, with a band of deep pink on either side. Flowers early April. 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Rio’

""
Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Rio’ A striking bi-coloured Triumph bloom, that is well
suited to its name, with brilliant red feathering on a white ground. It flowers in late April and May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Raspberry Ripple’

""
Tulipa ‘Raspberry Ripple’ An uncompromising combination of deep red, flamed
and flared, on a white ground. Makes a strong, square-bottomed flower. An
eye-catching cut flower that blooms in April. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Estella Rijnveld’

""
Tulipa ‘Estella Rijnveld’ One of the best of the Parrot tulips, the petals
exuberantly ruffled in red and white. Raised in the Netherlands in 1954 by Dr de Mol and named after his wife. Flowers in May. 55cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Negrita’

""
Tulipa ‘Negrita’ Excellent in pots as it grows to only 45cm with purple flowers, veined with seams of an even darker purple. At the base of each petal, a surprising clear blue blotch. Flowers mid April. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Temple of Beauty’

""
Tulipa ‘Temple of Beauty’ A tulip of great poise, with sharply pointed orange petals flushed up the centre with deep pink. A descendant of the old Cottage Group tulips, known for their staying power. Flowers April to May. 60cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Apricot Pride’

""
Tulipa ‘Apricot Pride’ A Darwin Hybrid tulip with the huge, square-shouldered
blooms typical of that group. A soft colour, easy to use and lovely to pick.
Flowers late April. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Red Dress’

""
Tulipa ‘Red Dress’ An unusually shaped tulip, now part of a new category, the
Coronet group. The petals are of a stiff, thick texture, twisting in several directions before gathering in a crown. Flowers mid to late spring. 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Abu Hassan’

""
Tulipa ‘Abu Hassan’ Flowers of deep mahogany red, with an edge of deep
gold around the top of the petals. It never opens up to show the inside.
Flowers in early May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Greenstar’

""
Tulipa ‘Greenstar’ Imagine the popular green and white tulip ‘Spring Green’ reborn as a Lily-Flowered tulip and you have ‘Greenstar’. It flowers between late April and early May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Black Hero’

""
Tulipa ‘Black Hero’ Among the best of the Double Late tulips, because, although it is tall, it has a stem strong enough to bear its cargo. A sport of the famous T. ‘Queen of Night’. Flowers April to May. 60cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Ballerina’

""
Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ Sometimes, form in tulips is sacrificed in pursuit of size. Not so with the elegant ‘Ballerina’, which is sweetly scented and flowers in sunset shades of orange and red, netted together in an indistinguishable way. 55cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

 

Tulipa ‘Cairo’

""
Tulipa ‘Cairo’ A Triumph tulip that is a lovely soft sandy brown, and which gets browner as it ages. Broad, squareish petals make a flat-topped flower. An exceptional tulip and scented as well. Flowers mid April to early May. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Request’

""
Tulipa ‘Request’ Like so many other orange tulips, ‘Request’ is scented, which is a great bonus in a tulip. The warm orange of the strongly reflexed petals has a clear tongue of pink overlaid on the outside. Flowers April. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram

Tulipa ‘Gavota’

""
Tulipa ‘Gavota’ A mid-season Triumph tulip that flowers in late April and early May. A strong, some might say harsh, combination of brownish red, edged with pale yellow. Inside, the flower is all yellow. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b†.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Mistress Mystic’ A very prettily shaped tulip, the petals curving out slightly at the top. Complex shades of violet, veined over a very pale pink. Flowers late April. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Burning Heart’ Huge flowers, variable in their markings. Some are pale cream, streaked with red, others are flushed all over with red. Inner petals are more strongly marked than outer. Flowers April to May. 55cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Merlot’ A tall, elegant tulip of the Lily-Flowered type, with petals that reflex slightly at their tips. Classically formed – a tulip of great poise. Flowers in late April. 65cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Ronaldo’ The beauty of this Triumph tulip lies in the complex, greyish bloom on the outside of the huge, rounded deep crimson petals. It makes a handsome, squareish flower that blooms in mid-April. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Flaming Spring Green’ This viridiflora type is a mutation of the popular ‘Spring Green’. But rather than just green feathering, the creamy-white petals also include flares of red. A late-season option, flowering in May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Estella Rijnveld’ One of the best of the Parrot tulips, the petals exuberantly ruffled in red and white. Raised in the Netherlands in 1954 by Dr de Mol and named after his wife. Flowers in May. 55cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Raspberry Ripple’ An uncompromising combination of deep red, flamed and flared, on a white ground. Makes a strong, square-bottomed flower. An eye-catching cut flower that blooms in April. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Rio’ A striking bi-coloured Triumph bloom, that is well suited to its name, with brilliant red feathering on a white ground. It flowers in late April and May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Slawa’ A handsome and dramatic tulip, with a tall, slightly waisted flower. The petals are almost striped, deep purple in the centre, with a band of deep pink on either side. Flowers early April. 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Grand Perfection’ An attempt to get close to the Rembrandt tulips of Dutch Old Master paintings, with broad flashes of red spreading over a creamy background. Flowers in late April. 45cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Negrita’ Excellent in pots as it grows to only 45cm with purple flowers, veined with seams of an even darker purple. At the base of each petal, a surprising clear blue blotch. Flowers mid April. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Temple of Beauty’ A tulip of great poise, with sharply pointed orange petals flushed up the centre with deep pink. A descendant of the old Cottage Group tulips, known for their staying power. Flowers April to May. 60cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Apricot Pride’ A Darwin Hybrid tulip with the huge, square-shouldered blooms typical of that group. A soft colour, easy to use and lovely to pick. Flowers late April. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Red Dress’ An unusually shaped tulip, now part of a new category, the Coronet group. The petals are of a stiff, thick texture, twisting in several directions before gathering in a crown. Flowers mid to late spring. 40cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Abu Hassan’ Flowers of deep mahogany red, with an edge of deep gold around the top of the petals. It never opens up to show the inside. Flowers in early May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Request’ Like so many other orange tulips, ‘Request’ is scented, which is a great bonus in a tulip. The warm orange of the strongly reflexed petals has a clear tongue of pink overlaid on the outside. Flowers April. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Cairo’ A Triumph tulip that is a lovely soft sandy brown, and which gets browner as it ages. Broad, squareish petals make a flat-topped flower. An exceptional tulip and scented as well. Flowers mid April to early May. 45cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Ballerina’ Sometimes, form in tulips is sacrificed in pursuit of size. Not so with the elegant ‘Ballerina’, which is sweetly scented and flowers in sunset shades of orange and red, netted together in an indistinguishable way. 55cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Black Hero’ Among the best of the Double Late tulips, because, although it is tall, it has a stem strong enough to bear its cargo. A sport of the famous T. ‘Queen of Night’. Flowers April to May. 60cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Greenstar’ Imagine the popular green and white tulip ‘Spring Green’ reborn as a Lily-Flowered tulip and you have ‘Greenstar’. It flowers between late April and early May. 50cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Gavota’ A mid-season Triumph tulip that flowers in late April and early May. A strong, some might say harsh, combination of brownish red, edged with pale yellow. Inside, the flower is all yellow. 50cm. AGM*. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b†.
© Jason Ingram
"Tulipa
Tulipa ‘Ballade’ Has the sharply reflexed petals typical of Lily-Flowered tulips. They open into a wide, shallow flower, deep pink, edged with white. Inside, a surprising turquoise basal blotch on a white background. 55cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
"Tulipa
Tulipa clusiana The lady tulip was one of the first wild tulips to come into Europe. Crimson-washed outer petals are pure-white inside, stained by a basal blotch of deep purple. Flowers in April. 25cm. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.
"Tulipa
Tulipa saxatilis Bakeri Group ‘Lilac Wonder’ Some beautiful small cultivars have been selected from wild species tulips. This one with its arresting combination of pink and bright yellow, flowers from April to May. 25cm. AGM. RHS H6, USDA 3a-8b.

*Holds an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. †Hardiness ratings given where available.

Useful information

Address Belcombe Court, Belcombe Road, Bradford On Avon, Wiltshire BA15 1LZ. Web belcombe.com Open Open occasionally for charity, see website for details. Belcombe Court will also host this summer’s Iford Arts Festival, 21-30 August. Visit ifordarts.org.uk for more information.