Tulip 'Sarah Raven'

What a fantastic tulip – with the best colour of true, rich crimson and the most elegant flower shape. A very long flowerer too.

Four or five years ago on a visit to Holland, Sarah was shown this variety – a blend of her favourite things, lily-flowered shape and dark, rich colour – and asked if she would like it named after her. And of course she said 'Yes'!

About 15 years ago the process began of breeding this tulip – different varieties were chosen for their particular features, and then crossed again and again to create a stunning hybrid. The strongest and healthiest performer was chosen to grow on, and then 'Sarah Raven' was grown in the fields in Holland until there was a large enough crop of bulbs to offer to our customers.

For more information about this variety, watch Sarah's introductory video.

This can be gift wrapped in our exclusive hessian sack, with ribbon and a Sarah Raven gift card. You will be able to add this to your basket once you begin the checkout process. To add a gift message to your order, simply fill out the details at the delivery stage of the checkout.

Please note: only items which are showing ‘in stock’ can be gift wrapped.

Genus	Tulipa
Group/Species	Lily flowered
Variety	Sarah Raven
Type	Hardy Perennial Bulb
Common Name	Tulip
Border Position	Front, Middle
Bulb Size	12/+ For more info on bulb sizes, click here.
Soil Type	Acid, Alkaline, Chalky, Clay, Fertile, Heavy Clay, Neutral, Sandy
Scent	Unscented
Site	Full Sun, Part Shade
Moisture	Well-drained
Height	45cm (18in)
Spacing	Plant pointy end up 10-15cm (4-6in) deep, 8cm (3in) apart. Layer bulbs to a depth of 25-30cm (10-12in) if room is tight. Remember to add plenty of grit if your soil is heavy. For containers, space bulbs 1-2cm (½-1in) apart if planting in a single layer, give them more room, 2-3cm (1-1½in) if planting in a bulb lasagne.
Sowing, Seeds, Planting	Plant outdoors October - December.
Care Tips	Don't plant tulip bulbs until the cold weather has set in – this helps wipe out viral and fungal diseases. Leave the browning foliage on your tulips until every leaf has died right down – this allows the bulb to store more food and increases the chances of good flowering the following year.
Flowering	April - May
Vase Life	Tulips make supreme cut flowers. Strip the bottom leaves, tie the stems in paper to hold the stems ram-rod straight and leave to drink for at least 3 hours – or overnight. This helps keep the stems straight, but tulips do continue to grow after picking so curves may appear.

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec

Sow Under Cover/Plant Indoors
Direct Sow/Plant Outdoors
Flowers/Harvest

Planting numbers for bulbs in borders

A handy guide for how many alliums, narcissi, tulips, snowdrops and other bulbs to plant in your plot.

Top tips for growing tulips

Sarah shares her top tips for growing tulips successfully, from how deep to plant them to what sort of soil you should use.

Understanding the 15 different tulip groups

The full list of the different tulip groups, with a little specification, as well as an example. We hope from this you can learn a bit more to help...

Sarah's favourite tulip groups

Sarah talks about her favourite types of tulip groups.

Protecting tulips from pests

Protect your tulips this spring from their main pests. This short guide shows you how to avoid tulip fire and squirrels.

How to plant and grow tulips

Find out the best way to plant your tulip bulbs for a great display next spring.

Layering bulbs – How to make a bulb lasagne

Create beautiful flower displays in your spring pots with Sarah's guide to layering bulbs in a bulb lasagne.

Tulip 'Sarah Raven' reviews

Average based on 20 reviews

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Jill

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Jacqui

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Helen

Reviewed 31st July 2019 by Annette

Polite efficient service and excellent quality plants and bulbs

Reviewed 15th July 2019 by Hello Fiona

Beautiful colour and shape

Reviewed 11th July 2019 by Hello Debbie

Beautiful bulbs Great display

Reviewed 10th July 2019 by Hello

Only 4 bulbs flowered and they were very small.

Reviewed 10th July 2019 by Hello Jill

Bulbs were well labelled and packed . Sarah Raven tulips are beautiful but the background makes a difference because they are dark and rich.

Reviewed 27th June 2019 by Janet

The most elegant lily-flowered blooms of lovely dark colour, which contrasted well with 'Spring Green' tulips.

Reviewed 27th June 2019 by Clare

Looked fabulous in pots. Will use again.

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Helen

The bulbs provided a beautiful display ,they were carefully chosen To be planted with silver foliage.

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Hilary

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Elizabeth

Bulbs arrived in good condition and they were beautiful in bloom. Tall and flowered for some weeks.

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Marjorie

As before the bulbs are excellent.

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Jill

Beautiful flowers but not all in the right position. Dark tulips are tricky to place

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Mrs Griffiths

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Jenny

Healthy, in good condition, and very good size. Flowered for a long period.

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by Marie

These flowered fine and in contrast to those that were poor.

Reviewed 26th June 2019 by John

On time delivery and good quality bulbs. Great flowers.

Tulip Sarah Raven its gorgeous

Reviewed 18th April 2017 by Steven Marston

I spotted this tulip just after I had ordered my tulips for the season from a big supplier, but the colour of this one seems unique and is a beautifully velvety dark maroon colour which looks great with its lily shape. Long-lasting too- its just finished. Last week I was at Keurkenhof and did not see a tulip as nice as this. Did you breed it yourself or have you renamed a known tulip?

5 bulbs 260963B	£4.95	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
15 bulbs 260963-15	£14.95	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
30 bulbs 260963-30	£26.50	In stock [?] When in stock, please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.

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