Tulip Types

A Symbol of Spring: Tulips in the Garden

Tulips, the quintessential symbol of spring, are among the most popular and beloved bulbs worldwide. Most gardeners reserve a special spot for these vibrant blooms, whether in garden beds or containers. Over 3,000 registered tulip varieties are categorized into fifteen groups based on their flower type, size, and blooming period.

Single Tulips

Single Tulips are the classic tulips with six-petaled, cup-shaped flowers. They embody the traditional tulip silhouette and are prized for their simplicity and elegance. Their flowers open fully during the day, displaying vibrant, uniform colors ranging from pure whites and soft pastels to bold, rich reds and purples. The ‘Single’ designation refers to their single layer of petals, which creates a clean, uncluttered look.

Single Early Tulips

• Bloom Time: Early spring, typically from late March to early April.
• Height: 10 to 18 inches (25 – 45 cm).
• Best For: Borders, containers, early spring color.
• Additional Details: These tulips are among the first to bloom, providing a bright burst of color as soon as winter fades. Their shorter stature and strong stems make them resilient against early spring winds and rains.

Single Late Tulips

• Bloom Time: Late spring, usually from late April to May.
• Height: 18 to 30 inches (45 – 75 cm).
• Best For: Garden beds, cut flowers, adding height to garden designs.
• Additional Details: Known for their taller stems and larger blooms, Single Late Tulips often feature a more elongated, goblet-shaped flower that adds elegance to late spring gardens.

Double Tulips or Peony Tulips

Double Tulips, often called Peony Tulips, are characterized by their multi-layered petals that create a dense, ruffled bloom. These tulips mimic the appearance of peonies or roses, with a fullness that adds a luxurious touch to gardens. The flowers are large, often richly colored, and can be as wide as 10 inches (25 cm) across when fully open.

Their lush, heavy blooms are eye-catching but also make them more susceptible to wind and rain, so they thrive best in sheltered spots.

Double Early Tulips

• Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring, usually from late March through April.
• Height: 8 to 12 inches (20 – 30 cm).
• Best For: Garden borders, edges, containers, and cutting gardens.

Double Late Tulips

• Bloom Time: Late spring, usually from late April through May.
• Height: Up to 12-20 inches (30-50 cm).
• Best For: Perfect for dramatic garden beds, borders, and containers
• Additional Details: Double Late Tulips bloom later in the season, offering a lush, opulent look to gardens when many other spring flowers have faded. Their larger size and multi-layered petals make them ideal for creating standout garden features or luxurious bouquets.

Fosteriana Tulips

Fosteriana Tulips, also known as Emperor Tulips, are among the earliest tulips to bloom. They are noted for their large, wide-open flowers that can reach up to 5-10 inches (12-25 cm) in diameter when fully open. These tulips often have broad, sometimes striped leaves, which add additional ornamental value. Fosteriana Tulips are typically available in bold, bright colors like red, orange, and yellow, making them a vibrant addition to early spring gardens. They are excellent for naturalizing and some varieties are also fragrant, adding another layer of sensory appeal.

• Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring.
• Height: 10 to 20 inches (25 – 50 cm).
• Special Features: Large flowers, early bloomers, naturalize well, some are fragrant.
• Best For: Early spring color, borders, naturalizing, adding bold color early in the season.
• Additional Details: Fosteriana Tulips are robust and reliable, often returning year after year in the garden. Their early bloom time means they bring life to the garden just as winter is ending, and their large, showy flowers are among the most dramatic of the early-blooming tulips.

Kaufmanniana Tulips or Waterlily Tulips

Kaufmanniana Tulips, also known as Waterlily Tulips, are distinguished by their star-shaped flowers that open wide in the sun, often lying nearly flat and resembling waterlilies. These tulips are among the earliest to bloom in the spring and are known for their bright, contrasting colors. The flowers open wide during the sunny hours of the day, providing an entirely different color effect than when closed. The change in shape and color from morning to afternoon adds dynamic interest to the garden.

• Bloom Time: Early spring.
• Height: 6 to 12 inches (15 – 30 cm).
• Best For: Rock gardens, containers, early spring displays, low-growing accents.
• Additional Details: These low-growing tulips are perfect for the front of borders or rock gardens where their unique flower shape and bright colors can be appreciated up close. Kaufmanniana Tulips are particularly well-suited for naturalizing in grass or under deciduous trees, where they can create a striking early-season display.

Greigii Tulips

Greigii Tulips are prized for their striking, often mottled or striped foliage, which adds interest to the garden even when the flowers are not in bloom. The flowers are large and bowl-shaped and typically appear in bold colors such as red, yellow, and white. These tulips bloom in early to mid-spring and are reliable perennials, often returning year after year. The combination of their vivid flower colors and dramatic leaves makes Greigii Tulips a standout choice for any garden.

• Bloom Time: Early to mid-spring.
• Height: 8 to 12 inches (20 – 30 cm).
• Best For: Borders, rock gardens, pots, adding visual interest with colorful foliage.
• Additional Details: Greigii Tulips are versatile and adaptable, making them a great choice for a variety of garden settings. Their low-growing habit and eye-catching leaves make them ideal for the front of borders or as a striking underplanting in mixed beds. They also perform well in containers, where their unique foliage can be enjoyed up close.

Darwin Hybrid Tulips

These tulips were developed in the Netherlands by the esteemed Dutch breeder, Mr. D.W. Lefeber, who played a key role in their early development. He crossed the renowned Tulipa fosteriana ‘Madame Lefeber‘ (also known as ‘Red Emperor’) with various cultivars from the Darwin tulip group. This crossbreeding resulted in a series of tulips celebrated for their large, robust blooms and sturdy, long stems. These qualities have made them highly sought after as cut flowers, leading to extensive cultivation for this purpose. Their egg-shaped, single blooms, measuring up to 3 inches (8 cm) wide, are available in a broad spectrum of colors, including vibrant oranges, reds, yellows, and pinks, as well as varieties with speckled and striped petals. Among the best tulips for naturalizing, these varieties can bloom for up to five years. 

• Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
• Height: 20 to 28 inches (50 – 70 cm).
• Best For: Naturalizing, garden beds, borders, cut flowers.
• Additional Details: Darwin Hybrid Tulips are known for their exceptional performance in the garden, with strong, tall stems that hold up well in wind and rain. Their large, vividly colored blooms are perfect for creating impactful garden displays, and they are also excellent as cut flowers due to their long vase life.

Triumph Tulips

Triumph Tulips are the largest group of tulips, known for their classic tulip shape and sturdy stems. These tulips bloom in mid to late spring, offering a wide range of vibrant colors and bicolored varieties. The flowers are typically cup-shaped and sit atop strong, medium-height stems, making them ideal for garden beds, borders, and containers. Triumph Tulips are also one of the best types for forcing, making them a popular choice for indoor displays.

• Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
• Height: 10 to 16 inches (25 – 45 cm).
• Best For: Borders, containers, forcing, creating colorful garden displays.
• Additional Details: Triumph Tulips are versatile and reliable, making them a staple in many gardens. Their wide range of colors and strong, upright

Fringed Tulips

Fringed Tulips are a distinctive group characterized by their finely incised petal edges, adding a delicate, lace-like texture to the blooms. These tulips originated as mutants from various other groups, which is why their heights and flowering periods can vary. However, the common feature among them is the unique fringed or serrated petal edges that catch the light beautifully. 

• Bloom Time: Mid to late spring.
• Height: 14 to 30 inches (35 – 75 cm).
• Best For: Adding elegance and texture to gardens, borders, and containers.
• Additional Details: With their elegant fringed edges, these tulips bring a touch of sophistication to any garden. Their height varies, making them suitable for front and mid-border placements.

Lily-Flowered Tulips

Lily-Flowered Tulips are distinguished by their slender, graceful flowers with pointed, recurving petals that flare outwards, resembling lilies. These tulips have thin, delicate stems, making them more susceptible to wind damage. While they may require some protection from the wind, their elegant blooms make them a favorite for cut flowers and garden displays.

• Bloom Time: Late spring, with some varieties blooming in mid-spring.
• Height: 16 to 24 inches (40 – 60 cm).
• Best For: Cut flowers, adding a refined touch to gardens, late spring interest.
• Additional Details: These tulips bring a unique, sophisticated beauty to gardens with their flared petals and delicate appearance. Despite their slender stems, they are prized for their elegance and are often used in formal garden designs.

Parrot Tulips

Parrot Tulips are whimsically shaped, unusually colored tulips that have been developed from mutations of late-flowering tulips and those in the Triumph group. These tulips are known for their serrated or fringed petals that twist and curl dramatically. As they mature, the flowers open wide, sometimes nearly flattening out, revealing their vibrant, often multi-colored petals. Parrot Tulips start off green as buds and gradually reveal brilliant colors as they open, resembling a parrot’s plumage.

• Bloom Time: Late spring.
• Height: 14 to 26 inches (35 – 65 cm).
• Best For: Creating whimsical, vibrant displays in garden beds, borders, and containers.
• Additional Details: Parrot Tulips are among the most striking and unique tulips, often used as statement pieces in the garden. Their unusual shapes and colors make them a conversation starter, whether in the garden or in floral arrangements.

Viridiflora Tulips

Viridiflora Tulips are known for their unique petal coloring, which includes green stripes or flames on the back of the petals. These tulips have a cupped bloom shape, typically about 3 inches across (7 cm). Blooming in late spring, Viridiflora Tulips are often sought after by gardeners looking for something unusual. Their long-lasting blooms (up to 3 weeks) make them a fantastic choice for both gardens and vases.

• Bloom Time: Late spring.
• Height: 16 to 20 inches (40 – 50 cm).
• Best For: Unique garden accents, long-lasting blooms, vases.
• Additional Details: While they may not be as well-known as other tulip types, Viridiflora Tulips offer something truly distinctive with their green-streaked petals. They add a modern twist to traditional tulip plantings.

Botanical Tulips

Botanical Tulips, or Species Tulips, have a natural, wildflower-like appearance. These tulips stay low to the ground and often seem to be in flower as soon as they emerge from the soil. Known for their bright colors and natural look, they are real eye-catchers in early spring. Many varieties also have striped leaves, adding to their charm. Botanical Tulips are resilient, often unaffected by wind and weather, making them ideal for naturalizing and rock gardens.

• Bloom Time: Early spring.
• Height: Typically low to the ground, with varying heights.
• Best For: Naturalizing, rock gardens, adding early spring color, wildflower gardens.
• Additional Details: Botanical Tulips are perfect for gardeners looking to create a natural, meadow-like effect in their gardens. Their early bloom time and hardiness make them a reliable choice for adding color to challenging spots.