These are real early birds: they bloom before any other tulips. They catch the eye not only because of their extra early flowering but also because of their inflorescence and cheery range of colors. In addition, the graceful way the flowers open and their pretty foliage make them attractive before, during and after flowering. They are not bothered by wind and weather and are great naturalizers. They not only return year after year, but they multiply and build up a small colony over time. These petite plants are well suited for rock gardens, along walkways and in naturalized areas. Bloom in early - mid spring.

The Darwin Hybrid group includes a series of tulips that excel due to their flower size and sturdy, long stems that withstand wind and rain. Their large, egg-shaped single blooms are available in a wide range of colors. Due to these qualities, these tulips have really made a name for themselves as cut flowers, and are cultivated extensively for this purpose. Among the best for naturalizing, they provide blooms up to 5 years! Bloom in mid-late spring.

Tulipa fosteriana is a wild species found in the mountainous areas of Central Asia. Although no longer being cultivated, numerous beautiful cultivars developed from it are still marketed. They differ from one another in height, but all have solitary, bowl-shaped flowers, 5 in. wide (12 cm), with a slender shape and large, sometimes striped, leaves. These tulips generally naturalize easily and come back year after year in the garden. They are well-suited to mixed borders and create impressive bedding displays. Bloom in early-mid spring.

A symbol of spring, tulips are the most popular bulbs and most gardeners reserve them a spot in the garden or in containers. There are currently over 3,000 registered varieties, which are divided into fifteen groups, mostly based on the flower type, size and blooming period of the tulip.