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Dating back to the year 1700, this stunning Duc Van Thol cultivar must be considered as one of the best. Growing to no more than 5-7 inches tall this miniature variety not only has a beautiful trick up its sleeve (the flowers will open pure white in colour and then -after a couple of days grace - the petal tips will slowly change to a seductive rose-pink colour that darkens as time goes on), it is unusual as tulips go by having an exquisite scent to accompany its fairy-like blooms.
Although the 'Rose' variation of the Duc van Thol cultivars was not around during the tulipmania heyday it did used to be top of the bulb planting lists for many of the European grand estates during the 18th and 19th centuries. Ideal for planting in parterres and at the front of borders these delicate tulips were also used for forcing blooms ready for the Christmas table. In their day they were commonly known as 'Winter Dukes', a reference to their early flowering season - March until April - and superb colour and form.
Unfortunately with the later introduction of tall, and later flowering pastel coloured tulips (which proved to be extremely popular) at the beginning of the 19th century, the Ducs Van Thol cultivars when out of fashion, out of production and then almost disappeared from history. After a period of 325 years from when the first Duc van Thol was introduced, to a period of where there were almost 2o different colour variations to choose from, there are now hardly any of the original early cultivars left. In fact some have already been lost and are no longer with us.
Luckily due to determined conservation efforts a few of these early varieties still survive - be it in small numbers - and thankfully the superb Duc van Thol - 'Rose' is amongst them.
For further reading click onto:
How to Grow Species Tulips from Seed
How to Propagate Tulips
Lost Tulips of the Dutch Golden Age- Semper Augustus and Viceroy
Old, Broken and Unusual Tulip Varieties
Old Dutch Tulips - Tulip 'Lac an Rijn'
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