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Thousands of tulips planted at RHS Wisley for a spectacular spring display

Mass plantings of tulips will transform the historic Old Laboratory for the first time next year

Our gardening teams at RHS Garden Wisley have been busy planting more than one hundred thousand tulip

bulbs in preparation for a breathtaking burst of spring colour. The large-scale planting will see vibrant displays of tulips transform the garden when they bloom in April next year, creating one of the most striking seasonal spectacles in the RHS Wisley calendar.

The spectacular display will take shape in front of the iconic Old Laboratory building, forming carpets of colour along the banks of the Jellicoe Canal. A rich mix of tulip cultivars have been planted, chosen for their bold hues, beautiful shapes and staggered flowering times.

Prepare to be wowed by a cheerful blend of yellow, orange and white Fosteriana tulips, known for their strikingly large flowers, that will fill the raised lawns outside the Old Laboratory, while a wonderful combination of white, pink and lilac cultivars will cover the Sundial Lawn. Pots brimming with yet more tulip varieties will add bursts of dazzling colour across the garden.

Artist impression of the mass planting of tulips at RHS Garden Wisley. Credit: Helen Thomas
Rob Brett, Curator of RHS Garden Wisley, said: “Spring at RHS Wisley is always an exciting time, as the structural beauty of the garden in winter gives way to an abundance of new plant life. We wanted to create an unforgettable display, a true celebration of spring for our visitors to enjoy, and this rare opportunity to see a mass planting of tulips on this scale in front of our iconic Laboratory building is the result of that vision.”


Some of the earliest and biggest tulips to flower in spring, Fosteriana tulips, also known as Emperor tulips, are as regal as this name suggests. Flowering before many other tulip types, they boast exceptionally large blooms on tall stems and come in a wonderful array of flower colours. Their oversized blooms open up in the spring sunshine becoming even more impressive. Being closely related to the

perennial wild tulip species, Tulipa fosteriana, Fosteriana tulip cultivars are often perennial and therefore more likely to reliably flower year after year.

If you still have tulip bulbs available, it’s not too late to plant them. In fact, November is often considered the best month to plant tulips, as colder soil temperatures can minimise the development of tulip fire – a fungal disease that thrives in mild, humid conditions. The bulbs will still have enough time to develop a strong root system before they emerge in late winter.

Here are some more tips for planting your tulip bulbs:
 

  1. Avoid wet soil: If you have a heavy soil nestle each bulb into a small amount of grit placed in the bottom of the planting hole. Tulips dislike sitting in wet conditions, and this will help prevent them rotting.
  2. Protect from wildlife: Squirrels, rats, mice and badgers enjoy tulip bulbs. Use a layer of chicken wire on top of the soil, disguising with ornamental grit if desired, to prevent your bulbs being dug up.
  3. Planting depth: Plant bulbs at a depth two or three times the height of the bulb with the pointed end of the bulb facing upwards. Use a bulb planter or bulb planting trowel with depth markers for ease.
  4. Timing matters: Plant tulips in the ground when the soil has cooled, ideally from November onwards to help prevent tulip fire. If tulip fire occurs plant bulbs in a different location the following year.
  5. Use combinations: There are 15 recognised divisions of tulip and many flower at different times and with different heights and forms. Try combining short single early tulips with tall single late tulips, incorporate unique shapes like fringed, parrot or lily-flowered and even include the striking foliage patterns of the Greigii types to enhance your display and extend the season of interest.

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.