HybridContainer OK

Tulip Queen of Night

Tulipa 'Queen of Night'

A stunning Darwin hybrid tulip with deep maroon-purple blooms so dark they appear almost black in certain light. This dramatic variety creates an elegant contrast in spring gardens and pairs beautifully with lighter colored flowers. The velvety petals and strong stems make it a standout choice for both garden displays and cut flower arrangements.

Sun

Full sun

☀️

Zones

3–8

USDA hardiness

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Height

4-28 inches

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Planting Timeline

Zone:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Start Indoors

Transplant

Direct Sow

Showing dates for Tulip Queen of Night in USDA Zone 7

All Zone 7 flower →

Zone Map

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Tulip Queen of Night · Zones 3–8

What grows well in Zone 7? →

Growing Details

Difficulty

Easy

Spacing4-6 inches

SoilWell-drained, fertile soil

pH6.0-7.0

WaterModerate water during growing season, dry dormancy preferred

SeasonSpring blooming, fall planted

FlavorN/A

ColorDeep maroon-purple, nearly black

Size4-5 inch blooms

Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar

Zone	Indoor Start	Transplant	Direct Sow	Harvest
Zone 1	May – June	July – August	July – September	—
Zone 2	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 11	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 12	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 13	January – January	January – February	January – March	—
Zone 3	April – May	June – July	June – August	—
Zone 4	March – April	June – June	June – July	—
Zone 5	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 6	March – April	May – June	May – July	—
Zone 7	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 8	February – March	April – May	April – June	—
Zone 9	January – February	March – April	March – May	—
Zone 10	January – January	February – March	February – April	—

Complete Growing Guide

Light: Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Good Drainage. Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 4 in.. Spread: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.. Spacing: Less than 12 inches. Growth rate: Rapid. Maintenance: Low. Propagation: Division. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.

Harvesting

Fruits capsular, ellipsoid to subglobose, 3-angled, leathery, dehiscence loculicidal. Many seeds in 2 rows per locule, flat.

Type: Capsule.

Edibility: The edible flowers have a vegetable flavor like lettuce, fresh peas or cucumber. The bulbs can be toxic, but were reported to be cooked and eaten during times of war and starvation.

Storage & Preservation

Fresh Queen of Night tulips last 5-7 days as cut flowers when properly handled. Store stems in cool water in a cool location away from direct sunlight and heat sources. Change water every 2-3 days and trim stem ends underwater to prevent air bubbles. These tulips are sensitive to ethylene gas, so keep away from ripening fruit.

For preservation, Queen of Night's dramatic dark color makes it excellent for pressing—place blooms between absorbent paper under heavy books for 3-4 weeks. The deep maroon-purple petals retain their color well when dried. You can also preserve the distinctive shape by air-drying whole stems upside down in a dark, well-ventilated area, though some color fading is normal. The bulbs themselves should remain in the ground or be stored dry in mesh bags in a cool, dark location if lifted.

History & Origin

Origin: Southern Europe to Central Asia

Advantages

+Edible: The edible flowers have a vegetable flavor like lettuce, fresh peas or cucumber. The bulbs can be toxic, but were reported to be cooked and eaten during times of war and starvation.
+Fast-growing
+Low maintenance

Considerations

-Toxic (Flowers, Leaves, Roots): Low severity
-Causes contact dermatitis

Companion Plants

Daffodils are probably the most practical companion here — deer and rodents avoid them, so planting them in a ring around your 'Queen of Night' bulbs gives passive protection without any extra work. Alliums do similar duty and bloom in a close enough window that the timing lines up naturally. Forget-Me-Nots and Grape Hyacinths fill the lower 6–8 inches of ground-level space without competing for the deeper soil zone where tulip bulbs actually sit, and the blue tones against near-black petals make a pairing worth planning around.

Stay well clear of Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) — the roots release juglone, a compound that suppresses or kills a wide range of plants, and tulips are not exempt. If you've got one in the yard, keep bulb beds outside the drip line and then some. Mint is a different problem: it spreads by runners and will physically crowd a bulb bed within a single growing season. Container it if you want it close. Large shallow-rooted trees like Silver Maple pull surface moisture aggressively, making it nearly impossible to maintain the dry summer dormancy tulips need to rebloom reliably.

Plant Together

Forget-Me-Nots

Bloom simultaneously, create beautiful color contrast, and help retain soil moisture

Daffodils

Repel rodents that eat tulip bulbs and extend the spring blooming season

Alliums

Natural pest deterrent that protects tulip bulbs from aphids and other insects

Grape Hyacinths

Similar growing conditions and bloom time, create layered spring display

Pansies

Provide ground cover and complementary purple tones while tulips emerge

Creeping Phlox

Acts as living mulch and provides contrasting texture and color

Crown Imperial

Strong scent deters rodents and deer from eating nearby tulip bulbs

Hostas

Emerging foliage hides dying tulip leaves and provides summer interest

Keep Apart

Black Walnut Trees

Release juglone toxin that inhibits tulip growth and can kill bulbs

Mint

Aggressive spreading habit competes with bulbs and can overwhelm planting area

Large Trees with Shallow Roots

Compete heavily for water and nutrients, creating poor growing conditions

Pests & Disease Resistance

Resistance

Good resistance to tulip fire when planted in well-drained soil

Common Pests

Aphids, bulb mites, mice, voles, deer

Diseases

Tulip fire (Botrytis tulipae), basal rot, gray mold

Troubleshooting Tulip Queen of Night

What you'll see, why it happens, and what to do about it.

Scorched, collapsed foliage and flower buds with fuzzy gray-brown lesions, appearing in cool wet spring weather

Likely Causes

Tulip fire (Botrytis tulipae) — a fungal disease that spreads rapidly in temps between 45–60°F with high humidity
Overcrowded bulbs planted less than 4 inches apart, restricting airflow

What to Do

1.Remove and bag all affected plant material immediately — do not compost it
2.Avoid overhead watering; water at soil level in the morning so foliage dries before nightfall
3.Next fall, space bulbs at least 5–6 inches apart and plant in a new bed — Botrytis overwinters in soil

Bulbs missing entirely or dug up and partially eaten when you go to check on dormant beds

Likely Causes

Voles tunneling through the bed and feeding on bulbs underground
Mice caching bulbs after digging them out, especially in loose mulched beds

What to Do

1.Plant bulbs inside wire mesh cages (hardware cloth with ½-inch openings) before backfilling
2.Lay a sheet of hardware cloth flat over the bed just below the soil surface — tulips push through but voles can't
3.Pull back heavy mulch in fall; it gives voles warm cover right next to the bulbs

Soft, brown, foul-smelling rot at the base of the bulb, noticed when lifting bulbs after bloom

Likely Causes

Basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae) — a soil-borne fungus that enters through the basal plate
Planting in heavy clay or poorly drained soil that holds moisture around the bulb

What to Do

1.Discard rotted bulbs — don't replant them anywhere
2.Amend planting beds with coarse sand or grit to improve drainage before the next fall planting
3.If you're lifting bulbs after dormancy, let them dry for 1–2 weeks in a warm, ventilated spot before storing

Flower stems and leaves emerge normally but buds are clipped off cleanly — sometimes overnight, right before peak bloom

Likely Causes

Deer feeding, most active in late March through April when little else is tender and available
Tulips rank among deer's preferred spring targets; 'Queen of Night' offers no special resistance

What to Do

1.Plant Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis) or Alliums around the perimeter — the sharp scent puts deer off both
2.Apply Bobbex or a similar repellent spray starting when shoots reach 2–3 inches, and reapply after rain
3.A wire cage or temporary mesh fence 30–36 inches tall is the most reliable option for a small bed

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Queen of Night tulips bloom each spring?▼

Queen of Night tulips typically bloom for 2-3 weeks in mid to late spring, depending on weather conditions. Cool temperatures extend the blooming period, while warm weather shortens it. In ideal conditions with temperatures between 45-65°F, individual flowers last 7-10 days, with the overall display lasting up to 3 weeks as buds open sequentially.

Can you grow Queen of Night tulips in containers?▼

Yes, Queen of Night tulips grow excellently in containers at least 8-10 inches deep. Use well-draining potting mix and plant bulbs 4-5 inches deep. Container-grown bulbs need 12-16 weeks of cold treatment (below 45°F) to bloom properly. In zones 6-9, store potted bulbs in an unheated garage or refrigerate them. Water sparingly through winter to prevent rot.

Will Queen of Night tulips come back every year?▼

Queen of Night tulips reliably return for 3-5 years in zones 3-7 when planted in well-drained soil with full sun. They're more perennial than many tulip varieties due to their Darwin hybrid genetics. In zones 8-9, treat them as annuals since insufficient winter chill prevents proper flower development. Allow foliage to die back naturally to ensure energy storage for next year's blooms.

What's the difference between Queen of Night and other black tulips?▼

Queen of Night is a Darwin hybrid with exceptional hardiness and 14-16 inch stems, while varieties like Black Hero (double) and Paul Scherer (single early) have different bloom times and forms. Queen of Night blooms later than most 'black' tulips and has the darkest, most consistent color. Its maroon-purple is more stable than varieties that fade to brown or burgundy in sunlight.

When should I plant Queen of Night tulip bulbs?▼

Plant Queen of Night bulbs 6-8 weeks before your area's first hard freeze, typically October through November in most regions. The soil temperature should be consistently below 55°F. In southern zones (8-9), plant in December or January, or pre-chill bulbs in the refrigerator for 12-16 weeks before planting in late winter for spring blooms.

Are Queen of Night tulips good for beginner gardeners?▼

Yes, Queen of Night tulips are excellent for beginners due to their exceptional hardiness, disease resistance, and forgiving nature. They're more reliable than species tulips and more perennial than many hybrid varieties. The main requirement is well-drained soil—they'll tolerate various soil types and pH levels better than more finicky tulip varieties.