Tulipa 'Silver Parrot' is an unusual Parrot tulip combining spectacular ruffled flowers with attractive variegated foliage. Its large blooms blend soft pink, lilac and creamy-white, with deeply cut, twisted and feathered petals creating the extravagant shape for which Parrot tulips are known. Even before the flowers open, the green leaves edged with creamy yellow add extra interest to the spring garden.
Growing to around 50cm tall and flowering in May, 'Silver Parrot' is a wonderful choice for borders and containers. Its fascinating flower shape also makes it an excellent cut flower, where the intricate petals and subtle variations in colour can be appreciated at close range.
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Flower colour: soft pink, lilac and creamy-white
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Flowering time: May
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Height: approximately 50cm
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Group: Parrot tulip
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Foliage: green leaves edged with creamy yellow
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Position: full sun
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Soil: fertile, well-drained soil
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Planting time: autumn
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Suitable for: borders, containers and cut flowers
About Tulipa 'Silver Parrot'
Parrot tulips are among the most distinctive of all tulips, and 'Silver Parrot' is particularly eye-catching. Its broad petals are irregularly cut, curled and ruffled, creating large flowers that change considerably as they open. The blooms begin relatively compact before gradually expanding into elaborate, almost sculptural flowers.
The colouring is equally attractive. Creamy-white forms a soft background for washes and feathered markings of pink and lilac, with deeper pink concentrated around many of the petal edges. The exact balance of colours can vary as the flowers develop, giving a planting of several bulbs plenty of natural variation.
Attractive Variegated Foliage
Unlike many tulips where the foliage simply provides a backdrop to the flowers, 'Silver Parrot' also has decorative leaves. The broad green foliage is edged with creamy yellow, providing colour and contrast from the moment growth emerges in spring.
This makes 'Silver Parrot' particularly useful in prominent containers and the front or middle of borders, where both its leaves and flowers can be seen clearly.
Growing Tulipa 'Silver Parrot' in the UK
Plant the bulbs during autumn, ideally from September to November. Choose a sunny position with fertile, free-draining soil. Good drainage is particularly important for tulips, as bulbs can rot if they remain in persistently wet ground during winter.
Plant bulbs approximately 10–12cm deep with their pointed ends facing upwards and space them around 10cm apart. For maximum impact, plant several bulbs together in groups or drifts rather than individually throughout a border.
Because Parrot tulips produce particularly large flowers, a sheltered position is beneficial. Protection from strong winds and heavy spring rain helps prevent the substantial blooms from being damaged once they are fully open.
Growing in Pots and Containers
'Silver Parrot' is an excellent container tulip, particularly because its decorative foliage provides interest before the flowers appear. Use a large container with plenty of drainage holes and fill it with good-quality, free-draining compost.
Bulbs can be planted more closely in pots than in garden borders to create a dense display. Position the container somewhere sunny and preferably sheltered, then water well after planting to settle the compost around the bulbs.
Excellent for Cut Flowers
The elaborate flowers of 'Silver Parrot' make superb cut flowers. Their unusual shape provides an interesting alternative to traditional cup-shaped tulips, while the pink, lilac and cream colouring works well in both colourful and more subtle arrangements.
Cut the stems when the buds are showing plenty of colour but have not yet fully opened. The flowers will continue developing in the vase, with the petals gradually unfurling and revealing their characteristic ruffled form.
Planting Combinations
'Silver Parrot' works beautifully alongside white, blush-pink and lilac tulips for a soft, coordinated display. Deeper purple or plum varieties provide a stronger contrast and help emphasise its pale creamy colouring.
It can also be planted alongside other Parrot tulips, combining different colours while maintaining the same flamboyant flower form. In containers, its variegated leaves make it attractive even when planted as a single-variety display.
Planting Tips
- Plant bulbs from September to November.
- Choose a sunny, preferably sheltered position.
- Plant approximately 10–12cm deep.
- Space bulbs around 10cm apart.
- Use fertile, well-drained soil.
- Plant in groups for maximum impact.
- Water thoroughly after planting.
- Allow foliage to die back naturally after flowering.
Once flowering has finished, faded blooms can be removed, but leave the foliage in place until it naturally turns yellow. This allows the leaves to continue feeding the bulb and storing energy for future growth.
Why Grow Tulipa 'Silver Parrot'?
- Large, spectacular Parrot tulip flowers
- Soft blend of pink, lilac and creamy-white
- Deeply cut, twisted and ruffled petals
- Unusual creamy-yellow edged foliage
- Flowers during May
- Grows to approximately 50cm
- Excellent for borders and containers
- Makes an outstanding cut flower
With its extravagant ruffled blooms and unusual variegated foliage, Tulipa 'Silver Parrot' provides interest well beyond its flowering period. The combination of soft pink, lilac and creamy-white flowers with yellow-edged leaves makes it a distinctive choice for late-spring borders, containers and cut-flower displays.
