A Guide to Tulip Varieties and Colors
Tulips offer an extraordinary range of forms, colors, and blooming times. With over 3,000 registered varieties divided into 15 official divisions, there's a tulip for every garden style and preference.
Understanding Tulip Classifications
The Royal General Bulb Growers' Association (KAVB) organizes tulips into divisions based on flower form and bloom time. Here's a comprehensive look at each type:
Early Season Tulips
Single Early Tulips bloom in early to mid-spring on sturdy 10-16 inch stems. These classic cup-shaped flowers open wide in sunshine and come in nearly every color except true blue. Popular varieties include 'Apricot Beauty' (salmon-rose), 'Christmas Marvel' (cherry-pink), and 'Yokohama' (golden yellow). Their compact size makes them excellent for containers and windy locations.
Double Early Tulips resemble peonies with their multiple layers of petals. Blooming at the same time as Single Early types, they include stunning varieties like 'Monte Carlo' (deep yellow), 'Monsella' (yellow with red flames), and 'Foxtrot' (rose-pink). The full, rounded blooms last longer than single varieties but can become heavy after rain.
Mid-Season Tulips
Triumph Tulips represent the largest division, blooming in mid-spring with perfectly proportioned cup-shaped flowers on strong 16-20 inch stems. This group offers the widest color range, from pure white 'White Liberstar' to deep purple 'Negrita', fiery orange 'Prinses Irene' with purple flames, and the cheerful yellow and red 'Gavota'. They're ideal for formal bedding schemes.
Darwin Hybrid Tulips produce the largest flowers of any division, with blooms up to 5 inches across on robust 24-28 inch stems. These vigorous tulips often perennialize better than other types. Classic varieties include 'Apeldoorn' (scarlet-red with black base), 'Golden Apeldoorn' (golden-yellow), 'Pink Impression' (rose-pink, one of the tallest), and 'Banja Luka' (deep yellow). Their size makes them dramatic statement flowers.
Late Season Tulips
Single Late Tulips (also called Cottage Tulips) bloom in late spring on tall stems up to 30 inches. They feature elegant, often egg-shaped flowers in sophisticated colors. Notable varieties include 'Queen of Night' (deep maroon, nearly black), 'Menton' (rose-pink with salmon glow), 'Maureen' (pure white), and 'Dordogne' (magenta-red). These are excellent for cutting.
Lily-Flowered Tulips have distinctive pointed, reflexed petals that create an elegant, star-like appearance. Growing 20-24 inches tall, they include graceful varieties like 'Ballerina' (orange with subtle fragrance), 'White Triumphator' (pure white), 'Marilyn' (white with rose-red flames), and 'China Pink' (satiny pink). Their refined form suits contemporary gardens.
Fringed Tulips feature crystalline fringes along petal edges, adding texture and visual interest. Mid to late blooming varieties include 'Cummins' (violet-purple with white fringe), 'Fancy Frills' (ivory-white with pink and rose flames), 'Fabio' (blood-red), and 'Black Jewel' (deep purple-black). The fringed edges catch light beautifully.
Viridiflora Tulips display dramatic green streaks, flames, or feathering on their petals, creating a sophisticated, contemporary look. Varieties like 'Spring Green' (ivory-white with green flames), 'Artist' (salmon-rose with green), 'Groenland' (pink with green), and 'Golden Artist' (golden-orange with green) bloom late and last exceptionally long in the garden.
Rembrandt Tulips show the "broken" color patterns depicted in Dutch Golden Age paintings, though modern varieties achieve this through breeding rather than the virus that created historical examples. These are now quite rare in commercial cultivation.
Parrot Tulips produce large, flamboyant flowers with twisted, ruffled, and feathered petals in exotic color combinations. Late-blooming varieties include 'Black Parrot' (deep purple-black), 'Apricot Parrot' (apricot-pink), 'Rococo' (bright red with green flames), and 'Super Parrot' (white with green and red). They create dramatic displays but may need staking.
Double Late Tulips (Peony-Flowered) produce enormous, fully double flowers that can reach 4 inches across. Blooming in late spring, they include 'Angelique' (pale pink, highly fragrant), 'Uncle Tom' (deep maroon-red), 'Mount Tacoma' (pure white), and 'Blue Diamond' (purple-violet). These luxurious blooms are stunning but heavy.
Specialty Divisions
Kaufmanniana Tulips (Waterlily Tulips) are among the earliest bloomers, opening in early spring close to the ground on 6-10 inch stems. Their flowers open flat in sunshine like waterlilies. Varieties like 'Stresa' (yellow with red exterior), 'Heart's Delight' (carmine-rose with pale rose), and 'Ancilla' (soft pink with red) often have mottled or striped foliage and naturalize well.
Fosteriana Tulips bloom early with large, elongated flowers on 8-20 inch stems. The famous 'Emperor' tulips belong here, including 'Red Emperor' (brilliant red), 'White Emperor' (pure white), and 'Orange Emperor' (bright orange). Many have attractive mottled leaves and excellent perennializing ability.
Greigii Tulips are distinguished by their beautifully mottled, striped, or streaked purple-brown foliage. Blooming mid-spring on short 8-12 inch stems, varieties like 'Red Riding Hood' (scarlet with black base), 'Toronto' (coral-red, multi-flowered), and 'Pinocchio' (red with white edges) are perfect for rock gardens and containers.
Species Tulips (Botanical Tulips) are wild tulips and their close cultivars, typically small and early blooming. Tulipa tarda produces star-shaped yellow and white flowers, T. turkestanica bears multiple white blooms per stem, and T. clusiana (Lady Tulip) features slender candy-striped flowers. These readily naturalize and return year after year.
Multi-Flowering Tulips produce 3-6 flowers per stem rather than the typical single bloom. Varieties like 'Antoinette' (yellow fading to soft orange-red), 'Candy Club' (white with raspberry), and 'Orange Bouquet' (orange with yellow) create fuller displays from fewer bulbs.
Color Palette Overview
White: From pure snow white ('Maureen', 'White Triumphator') to creamy ivory ('Spring Green')
Yellow: Ranging from lemon ('Strong Gold') to golden ('Golden Apeldoorn') to soft butter ('Mellow Yellow')
Orange: From soft apricot ('Apricot Beauty') to bright tangerine ('Orange Emperor') to fiery red-orange ('Ballerina')
Pink: Including soft blush ('Angelique'), salmon-rose ('Menton'), and deep rose ('Barcelona')
Red: From scarlet ('Red Emperor') to cherry ('Christmas Dream') to deep burgundy ('Jan Reus')
Purple: Spanning lavender ('Shirley'), violet ('Purple Prince'), and near-black ('Queen of Night', 'Black Hero')
Multicolored: Flamed, feathered, and blended combinations are endless, from striped varieties to those with contrasting edges or bases
When selecting tulips, consider bloom time, height, and color combinations to create a display that evolves throughout spring. Mixing early, mid, and late varieties ensures color from March through May, while coordinating colors within each bloom period creates cohesive, impactful designs.
