12 OF JAN’S RECOMMENDED TULIPS

1 Tulipa crystal pink†* A crispa tulip, with fringed petals, that is still in the development stage. Flowers May. 40cm.

2 T. ‘Vovos’† A parrot tulip, named for a local bird society, that is copper coloured with a hint of blue. A cross between ‘Malaika’ and ‘Blue Parrot’. Flowers May. 30cm.

T. parrot crystal†* Another new cross between a crispa and parrot tulip. Flowers May. 30cm.

T. yellow tango†* A Triumph tulip with ‘Shirley’ as one of its ancestors. Flowers from late April. 45cm.

T. ‘Flaming Agrass’† A mutant of the well-known ‘Agrass White’. A strong Triumph tulip. Flowers from mid May. 45cm.

T. cream double lily* Jan is propagating this new cultivar for Japanese growers. It’s the only double lily tulip that produces multiple flowers on one stem. Flowers mid May. 45cm.

T. ‘Wyndham’† The only double purple and white Triumph tulip, named after the town in New Zealand where one of Jan’s daughters lives. Flowers May. 40cm.

T. ‘Heleen Valstar’† An elegant red tulip Jan has named for a Dutch company. Flowers May. 50cm.

T. ‘Bad Woerishofen’† Late-flowering and extremely fragrant, orange-red tulip created in honour of the annual tulip festival in this German spa town. Flowers May. 40cm.

T. ‘Blue Parrot’ A lovely parrot tulip, introduced in the 1930s. Flowers from mid May. 50cm.

T. ‘Copex’† A Triumph tulip name after the Dutch international cargo transport company. Very strong. Flowers from late April. 30cm.

T. ‘Continental’† An almost-black, Triumph tulip, named for the German car tyre manufacturer. Flowers are double the size of those of ‘Queen of Night’. Flowers May. 45cm.

Tulips bred by Jan. *As yet unnamed tulips still at the development stage.

Rows and rows of tulips stand out against the flat fields of the Noord-Holland countryside.

Many of Jan’s tulips, including the T. ‘Copex’ he is holding above, are already on the market. Some of the other recommendations shown here are ones he is still developing, so names are provisional.