How to Grow Golden Tulip King's Blood

Closest match — some photos here may show the parent species rather than this specific variety.

Golden Tulip King's Blood

Tulipa × gesneriana 'King's Blood'

flower

King's Blood is a stunning Darwin Hybrid tulip featuring deep crimson-red petals with a golden-yellow base and interior, creating a striking bicolor effect. This mid-season bloomer grows 24-28 inches tall and produces large, cup-shaped flowers ideal for cutting and garden display. Known for its vibrant color contrast and sturdy stems, it's a showstopper in spring borders and containers.

When should you plant Golden Tulip King's Blood in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Golden Tulip King's Blood timeline →

Example Golden Tulip King's Blood timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Golden Tulip King's Blood
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
First Golden Tulip King's Blood blooms
Around Aug 15

≈ 120 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Golden Tulip King's Blood dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6-8 hours daily; tolerates partial shade but blooms best in full sun

💧

Water: Moderate watering during growing season; keep soil moist but not soggy. Reduce watering after blooming. Prefers drier conditions during summer dormancy.

📏

Spacing: 4-6 inches apart (or 6-8 inches for larger displays) inches

📅

Days to maturity: 120-150 days from planting to bloom (typically blooms mid-April to early May)

🌱

Planting depth: Plant bulbs 6-8 inches deep (measured from base of bulb); deeper planting in warmer zones

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil; avoid waterlogged conditions

pH: 6.0-7.0

Amendments:

Compost or aged manure Sand or perlite for drainage Bone meal at planting time

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in zones 3-8; best performance in zones 4-7 with reliable winter chilling

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a

Get my Golden Tulip King's Blood timeline →

Growth Stages

Dormancy & Root Development

8-12 weeks

Bulb is planted in fall and develops roots over winter while dormant underground

Plant in October-November in most zones. Ensure bulbs are firm and disease-free. Mulch lightly after planting in cold climates.

Emergence & Vegetative Growth

3-4 weeks

Green shoots emerge from soil in early spring; foliage unfolds and stem elongates

Remove winter mulch once growth begins. Water regularly if spring is dry. Fertilize with balanced bulb fertilizer as shoots emerge.

Bud Formation

2-3 weeks

Flower bud develops at stem tip; foliage continues expanding and stem thickens and strengthens

Keep soil consistently moist. Apply low-nitrogen fertilizer to support bloom development without excess foliage.

Flowering

2-3 weeks (flowers last longer in cool weather)

Large cup-shaped flower opens, displaying deep crimson petals with golden-yellow base and interior; flower fully expands over 2-3 days

Enjoy blooms; deadhead spent flowers but leave stems and foliage intact. Stake tall varieties in windy locations.

Post-Bloom & Senescence

6-8 weeks

Petals fade and drop; foliage remains green; energy returns to bulb for next year's growth

Allow foliage to yellow naturally (6-8 weeks post-bloom). Fertilize bulb with low-nitrogen, high-potassium formula. Do not remove leaves early.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Forget-me-not (Myosotis) Wallflower (Erysimum) Candytuft (Iberis) Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) Hellebores Violas Bellis daisy Spinacia (for spring bulb beds)

Avoid planting near:

Fennel Cabbage family plants (may compete for nutrients) Potatoes (different soil pH preferences) Areas with poor drainage or standing water

Common Pests

Plant disease-resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation; remove infected leaves immediately; avoid overhead watering
and
Use physical barriers (wire mesh over plantings); plant bulbs deeper; apply deterrent repellents; plant resistant varieties
and
Remove debris and mulch where pests hide; hand-pick; use copper tape or diatomaceous earth; beer traps
Spray with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil; encourage beneficial predators; remove heavily infested foliage
Purchase virus-free bulbs from reputable suppliers; control aphid vectors; remove infected plants immediately

Uses

🍳

Edible Flower Garnish

Culinary

Tulip petals are edible and add visual appeal to salads, desserts, and beverages. Use only pesticide-free flowers grown for consumption. [source]

🏠

Cut Flower Arrangements

Household

Prized by florists and home gardeners for premium vase arrangements and bouquets. The striking color combination and tall stems make it ideal for wedding displays and formal arrangements. [source]

🎨

Dried Flower Crafts

Craft

Petals can be pressed for botanical art, bookmarks, and mixed-media crafts. Pressed flowers retain color and can be used in resin jewelry. [source]

🦋

Pollinator Support

Wildlife

Early spring blooms provide nectar and pollen to emerging bees and other pollinators during critical early-season food scarcity. [source]

🏠

Garden Display & Landscape Design

Household

Creates dramatic spring color in borders, beds, containers, and mass plantings. Excellent for formal gardens, cottage gardens, and contemporary landscape designs. [source]

Harvest Tips

Cut flowers in early morning when buds are still closed or just opening. Cut at base of stem above foliage. Condition in cool water for 2-3 hours before arranging. Recut stems at an angle every 2-3 days. Change water daily. Remove lower leaves below waterline. Tulips continue opening in the vase and may last 5-10 days with proper care.

Fun Facts

🌱 Darwin Hybrid tulips like King's Blood were created by crossing Darwin tulips with Fosteriana species in the early 1900s, resulting in larger flowers, stronger stems, and better garden performance.
🌱 The contrasting golden base and crimson petals of King's Blood are due to carotenoid pigments (yellow) and anthocyanins (red) concentrating in different cell layers of the petal tissue.
🌱 Tulips are one of the most economically important cut flowers globally; the Netherlands grows over 3 billion tulip bulbs annually, with Darwin Hybrids representing a premium category.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Deadhead Full Sun Hybrid Mulch Partial Shade

Shop Golden Tulip King's Blood plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.