The reality of tulip planting in Seattle for me is that the plants usually only last a year. I have tried many of the tulips that are noted for perennializing and found them only slightly permanent than the other types. I have planted hundreds of tulips over my 25 years on this property and aside from the most recently planted ones, only about five bulbs remain, sad and lonely, spread out all over the yard.

Could Flaming Purissima be different? I planted a row of clumps of these tulips in the fall of 2018 and they provided a wonderful show in the spring of 2019. And as I write this in April of 2020, they are back again in full force and blooming wonderfully well. Lately, I’m attracted to tulips that don’t just feature one color, and those that change color over time–they just seem to give a little more than the single-tone and stagnant colors. Flaming Purissima is a combination of every color between white and carmine, and the flowers look different every day. They open wide and happy when the Seattle sun peaks out, giving us even more to celebrate.

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I plan to feed these bulbs a few times in the spring with a general organic fertilizer and bulb food. We’ll see if they continue to impress next year.