Tulip Marshmallow is the tulip you plant when you want your spring garden to look generous and full of life. The blooms are packed with petals, like a small peony or garden rose, in rich raspberry pink with creamy white outer petals brushed with soft green at the base. The colors blend rather than clash, so even a big block of Marshmallow looks refined instead of loud. Tulip Marshmallow belongs to the Double Early Group, which means it flowers near the start of tulip season instead of making you wait until late spring. You can expect the first blooms in early to mid spring, often around mid to late April in many parts of the United States, depending on climate. Plants stay compact and sturdy, usually around twelve to twenty inches tall, so the heavy double flowers stand up well to spring showers and wind. For American gardens, Tulip Marshmallow is very adaptable. It thrives in full sun with soil that drains well and is hardy from about zone three through at least zone eight, with some growers listing it as suitable up to zone ten when winters are cool enough. This makes it a great choice from New England and the Midwest through much of the Pacific Northwest and the colder parts of the South. The compact habit is perfect for beds along a front walk, mixed borders, raised beds, and containers on a patio or balcony. The flowers last well when cut, so a small planting can still supply plenty of stems for vases indoors. How to succeed with Tulip Marshmallow bulbs • Plant the bulbs in fall once the soil has cooled and night temperatures sit in the forties. • Choose a sunny spot or very light shade with soil that does not stay wet for long. • Set bulbs about six inches deep and around four inches apart, pointy end up, and plant in generous groups for that lush carpet of color. • In mild winter areas, chill the bulbs in a refrigerator for roughly twelve to sixteen weeks before planting so they receive enough cold to form strong buds. Planted this way, Tulip Marshmallow rewards you with big, soft looking flowers at the very start of spring. Order Tulip Marshmallow bulbs, tuck them into the garden or into pots by the front door, and you will have a showy early display that looks as rich as any peony bed, long before summer has even begun.
