Blue Spectacle Double Peony Tulip Bulbs

Light Needs

Part Sun to Full Sun

(5+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

20 in.

Mature Spread

3-6 in.

Growing Zones

3 to 8

Blue Spectacle Double Peony Tulips open into densely layered, rounded flowers in a distinctive violet-purple shade with cool blue undertones. Blooms have the full petal count and softly scalloped form associated with double late / peony-flowered tulips, arriving in late spring. The blooms rise on upright stems about 18 to 24 inches tall. The 10-bulb pack contains premium bulbs around 12 cm in size. 

Blue Spectacle belongs to the double late tulip group, valued for large flowers that resemble garden peonies and bloom after many tulips have finished. The sturdy stems make excellent cut flowers. Hardy in USDA zones 3-8, it may return for several seasons in favorable ground, though double tulips are generally less dependable than Darwin hybrids. Use it in formal borders, cutting gardens, large patio pots, or repeated groups among later-emerging perennials that will occupy the space after tulip foliage declines.

Blue Spectacle Double Peony Tulip Bulbs Care

Plant Blue Spectacle Double Peony Tulip Bulbs in fall after the soil has cooled and several weeks before the ground freezes, setting them 6 to 8 inches deep with the pointed end facing upward. Full sun is preferred for strong stems and flowering, although partial shade is tolerated if the bulbs receive several hours of direct spring light. Plant in loose, well-drained loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH around 6.0 to 7.0, since prolonged wetness around dormant bulbs can shorten their lifespan.

After planting, water deeply to settle the soil and start root development, then let normal fall and winter precipitation carry most of the moisture load. When leaves emerge in spring, water during extended dry periods and let the upper soil dry slightly between soakings. Reduce irrigation after flowering as the foliage begins to yellow and go dormant. Apply a balanced bulb fertilizer according to label directions as growth starts in spring. 

Remove faded flowers before seed forms, but keep the stems and leaves attached until they turn yellow and begin to collapse naturally. For bouquets, cut when buds are fully colored and just starting to loosen, leaving sufficient foliage on the plant to continue feeding the bulb. In beds with wet summers, the bulbs may perform better when planted in beds with limited irrigation once the foliage has finished.

Blue Spectacle Double Peony Tulip Bulbs Spacing

Space bulbs about 4 to 6 inches apart in garden beds, planting in compact groups for a fuller block of late-spring color. For containers, choose pots at least 10 to 12 inches deep with generous drainage holes and a free-draining potting mix, placing bulbs somewhat closer for a dense seasonal display. Keep container soil moderately moist during active spring growth, then let it become noticeably drier once the foliage begins to fade. Containers in colder zones benefit from a sheltered unheated location in winter that protects the root ball from repeated severe freezes.

Blue Spectacle Double Peony Tulip Bulbs Companion Plants

Dianthus makes a good perennial neighbor because its lower growth and preference for sunny, well-drained soil suit the same part of the border. Boxwoods can provide a permanent evergreen framework behind a planting of Blue Spectacle, giving the rounded violet-purple flowers a clean backdrop during their short late-spring season. Snapdragons can share a large spring container, adding upright flowers around the tulips and continuing the display as temperatures warm. 

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