Strike Up the Band Perennial Tulip Collection, 24 bulbs

The music is hard to ignore when the primary colors of these 2 Perennial Tulips start to play. The brilliant blossoms of our Red Perennial Tulip mark time with the equally large, buttery Yellow Perennial Tulip. On sunny days they open wide to reveal black centers with pencil-thin outlines of yellow or red. Late. Strike Up the Band Perennial Tulip Collection includes 12 bulbs of each, 24 total, labeled. Covers about 6 sq ft. Exclusive.

Tulipa is an enormous genus consisting of approximately 75 species, all of which are, in their original forms, true perennials. In their native habitats (ranging from Central Asia to the Mediterranean basin) Tulips are subject to both long, cold winters and hot, bone-dry summers; they adapted to survive these conditions by returning to dormancy after a spring season of active growth and flower. The cultivation of Tulips goes back over 1,000 years and the 14th century Ottomans are generally credited with the development of Tulipa as a garden plant.

The conditions in most North American gardens don't much resemble the climates in which Tulips evolved, and most modern cultivars are best grown as annuals - planted in the fall, enjoyed the following spring and then replaced. There are several groups, however, that do offer strong multi-year performance. Selections from the Kaufmanniana, Fosteriana, Greigii, and Darwin Hybrid groups are generally considered the most perennial and our Tulip growing guide includes information on the growing practices that are most conducive to repeat performance. In addition to these groups of garden varieties, there are less-hybridized varieties referred to as Species Tulips or Botanical Tulips. Species Tulips are the closest contemporary analogs to the original, "wild" tulip and are the most perennial of all commercially available varieties. They are generally smaller and more demure than the more highly-bred forms; some Tulip connoisseurs consider them the most attractive and garden-worthy of all.

We offer, in most years, more than 100 Tulip varieties, each chosen on the basis of its garden merits. Our descriptions indicate, whenever possible, the group to which the variety belongs and whether the variety is considered an Early, Midseason, or Late Bloomer. These designations are relative - Early, here in Connecticut, means April, Late means May, and Midseason means somewhere in between. Employing varieties from across this spectrum will yield the longest possible season of bloom and the longer one has Tulips in flower, we think you'll agree, the better.

Darwin Hybrids are standout late-season Tulips with large, goblet-shaped flowers and tall stems (18–28"). They are considered the best perennial performers among hybrids, especially in cooler climates. Ideal for perennial borders or naturalizing in grassy areas, gardeners choose them for their size, staying power, and commanding presence.

For information on Tulip care, click Growing Guide.

We want our customers to receive strong, healthy plants that are ready to thrive in their gardens and homes. Here's what we'd like you to know about our shipping practices.

Delivery Timing

We aim to deliver your plants at as close to the proper time for planting in your area as possible. To do so, we consider the USDA Hardiness Zone to which we're shipping, current and forecasted weather at the destination and along the shipping route, and whether your plants are ready for transplant.

In spring, we ship first to the warmest regions and move north as planting conditions improve. For fall deliveries, we begin with the coolest regions and work south. We frequently adjust shipping schedules when extreme weather could put plants at risk while in transit or soon after arrival.

Because different plants reach readiness at different rates and are weather-sensitive in varying degree, a single order may be delivered via multiple shipments. Plants sold as part of a collection, or that are otherwise meant to arrive together, will be shipped together. Please contact our customer service team with two weeks' advance notice if you anticipate being away at the expected time of delivery. 

Tracking information for each package is delivered via email. 

Plant & Container Sizes

We deliver plants in various sizes and stages of growth, and the product detail pages of our website indicate the form and/or pot size in which the plant will be delivered. Pot sizes range from 1 pint to 1 gallon and larger. Many perennials, roses, shrubs and vines are delivered bareroot - that is, not in a container at all. Bulbs and tubers are generally delivered bareroot and fully dormant. We choose container sizes and delivery methods based on how each plant grows best, how we can minimize transplant shock, and how to minimize unnecessary bulk/weight in shipment. 

Caring for Your Plants Upon Arrival

It is important to acclimate greenhouse-grown plants to life outdoors. All plant shipments include simple instructions for handling your plants upon arrival. Further how-to information, including planting instructions, is available on each plant's product page.

At White Flower Farm, we stand firmly behind every product we sell and are proud to offer a money-back guarantee on each and every item offered on our website and at our store in Connecticut. Some modest terms and conditions apply, click here for details.

Should you have any questions about how our guarantee applies to a particular product or circumstance, our customer service team will be happy to help – please contact us at (800) 411-6159 or [email protected].