Dreaming of a tulip that comes back reliably over the years but still has fabulous tulip glamour, just in a diminutive form? Tulip 'Francisca' successfully combines both! It has the staying power of a botanical tulip and the impactful colour of its sometimes flighty taller hybrid cousins. In early spring, the small-statured Tulip 'Francisca' punches above its weight, bearing multiple bright scarlet blooms, that open up in the sunshine to reveal dark aubergine centres, making a striking contrast.  

Botanical tulips like Tulip 'Francisca' have many benefits. Hailing from tough mountainous terrain, they are among the most reliable of tulips, often coming back every spring when planted in the right spot. They enjoy a free-draining soil and a sunny location, and benefit from getting baked in summer, and are unbothered by spring storms. 'Francisca' tulips are also a great choice if you’re hoping to attract pollinators to the garden, as their open flowers provide a valuable source of early nectar and pollen. At around 15cm tall, they make lovely subjects for small pots on a patio or balcony, and are also star performers in rockeries or edging the front of a sunny border or path.