TULIP takeover

Supercharge your spring with the brightest bulbs

-  CHRIS MORLEY

Flash dance

Of all spring bulbs, tulips are the flashiest. Their irresistible shapes and colours offer endless scope for experiment, whether you crave soothing pastels or bouncy brights. A selection of early-, mid- and late-season varieties will give you flowers from late March to May. While the widest choice of bulbs is available in late summer, there will be plenty in flower now to buy from garden centres and nurseries.

Faithful returns

Often early to flower, small and delicate species tulips are brilliant value. Unlike most tulips, their flowers return every year without shrinking in size or quality. At 15-25cm high, they are just the ticket to festoon the front of borders, containers, gravel gardens and meadows.

* Cretan rock tulip (