Tulips are among the most celebrated spring flowers, heralding the end of winter with their vibrant colors and elegant forms. With over 3,000 registered varieties and 15 official classification divisions, tulips offer an extraordinary range of heights, colors, bloom times, and flower shapes. Whether you’re planning a bold spring display or seeking refined additions to your garden, this guide will help you navigate the wonderful world of tulip diversity.

Single Early Tulips (Division 1)

Single Early tulips are among the first to bloom, typically appearing in early to mid-spring. They feature classic cup-shaped flowers on sturdy stems.

‘Apricot Beauty’ produces soft salmon-pink blooms with a delicate apricot glow. Growing 14-16 inches tall, the flowers are lightly fragrant and particularly long-lasting. This variety naturalizes well and returns reliably for several years.

‘Christmas Marvel’ offers cherry-pink flowers with a subtle magenta undertone. Reaching 12-14 inches, it’s often used for forcing indoors but performs beautifully in the garden, creating cheerful early spring color.

‘Purple Prince’ displays deep purple-violet blooms on 14-16 inch stems. The rich, saturated color is unusual among early tulips and provides striking contrast with yellow daffodils and white crocuses.

‘Flair’ features bright red petals with distinctive golden-yellow edges and bases. Growing 12-16 inches tall, the bicolor effect is particularly eye-catching and holds up well even in rainy weather.

Double Early Tulips (Division 2)

Double Early tulips produce full, peony-like blooms with multiple layers of petals, creating a lush, romantic appearance.

‘Abba’ offers vibrant red double flowers on sturdy 10-12 inch stems. The densely-petaled blooms are long-lasting and provide bold color in borders or containers. This variety is exceptionally weather-resistant.

‘Monte Carlo’ produces fully double golden-yellow flowers with a light, sweet fragrance. Growing 12-14 inches tall, the substantial blooms resemble small peonies and often have a greenish tinge when first opening.

‘Foxtrot’ displays soft pink double blooms with slightly ruffled petals. Reaching 10-12 inches, it creates a delicate, feminine effect and combines beautifully with blue grape hyacinths.

‘Ice Cream’ is truly unique, featuring white outer petals surrounding a central dome of soft pink petals that resembles vanilla ice cream with strawberry topping. Growing 12-14 inches tall, it’s a conversation starter in any garden.

Triumph Tulips (Division 3)

Triumph tulips are the largest division, offering mid-season blooms with strong stems that resist wind and rain. They bridge the gap between early and late varieties.

‘Negrita’ produces deep purple-violet flowers on sturdy 16-18 inch stems. The rich color is uniform and doesn’t fade, making it excellent for mass plantings. It’s one of the most reliable varieties for perennializing.

‘Yokohama’ offers bright lemon-yellow blooms with excellent substance. Growing 14-16 inches tall, the clean color and strong stems make it ideal for cutting and garden display.

‘Ronaldo’ features unique purple flowers with a white frosted edge, creating a distinctive two-tone effect. Reaching 16-18 inches, it’s particularly striking when planted in groups.

‘Barcelona’ displays vibrant fuchsia-pink flowers with a subtle purple undertone. Growing 18-20 inches tall, the intense color holds up exceptionally well in both sun and shade.

‘National Velvet’ produces deep burgundy-red blooms with a velvety texture. The 16-18 inch stems are extremely sturdy, and the sophisticated color works beautifully with pastels or other rich tones.

Darwin Hybrid Tulips (Division 4)

Darwin Hybrids are among the tallest and most robust tulips, with large flowers on stems reaching 24-28 inches. They’re exceptionally perennial and often return for many years.

‘Apeldoorn’ is the quintessential Darwin Hybrid, producing enormous scarlet-red flowers with black centers and yellow stamens. Growing 24-26 inches tall, it’s incredibly vigorous and weather-resistant, often lasting 10-14 days in bloom.

‘Golden Apeldoorn’ offers the same impressive size and vigor with brilliant golden-yellow flowers and black centers. The dramatic contrast and substantial blooms create stunning focal points.

‘Blushing Apeldoorn’ features soft yellow petals delicately flushed with salmon-pink and rose. The subtle color blending creates a sophisticated, warm glow, and the 24-26 inch stems are excellent for cutting.

‘Pink Impression’ produces huge rose-pink flowers with a silvery sheen. Reaching 24-28 inches, it’s one of the tallest and most impressive pink tulips available, with blooms that can reach 4-5 inches across.

‘Daydream’ displays unique blooms that open apricot-orange and gradually fade to yellow, creating a beautiful aging effect. Growing 22-24 inches tall, it provides ever-changing color throughout its bloom period.

Single Late Tulips (Division 5)

Single Late tulips (also called Cottage tulips) bloom in late spring with elegant, often egg-shaped flowers on tall stems.

‘Queen of Night’ is legendary for its deep maroon-black flowers that appear almost black in certain light. Growing 24-26 inches tall, it creates dramatic contrast and sophisticated color combinations with lighter tulips or white flowers.

‘Menton’ offers soft rose-pink flowers with coral undertones. The 24-26 inch stems carry blooms that age beautifully, deepening in color over time. It’s excellent for cutting and naturalizing.

‘Shirley’ produces white flowers with purple feathering and flames that intensify as blooms mature. Growing 20-24 inches tall, each flower is uniquely patterned, creating artistic displays.

‘Dordogne’ features warm orange flowers with a subtle pink blush. Reaching 22-24 inches, the soft, sunset-like color is unusual and combines beautifully with both warm and cool tones.

Lily-Flowered Tulips (Division 6)

Lily-Flowered tulips have distinctive pointed petals that curve gracefully outward, creating an elegant, star-like shape when fully open.

‘Ballerina’ produces fragrant orange flowers with a sweet scent, unusual among tulips. Growing 20-22 inches tall, the lily-shaped blooms are particularly graceful and long-lasting.

‘White Triumphator’ offers pure white lily-shaped flowers on tall 24-26 inch stems. The elegant form and clean color make it perfect for sophisticated planting schemes or cutting gardens.

‘Burgundy’ displays deep wine-red flowers with pointed petals that reflex dramatically. Reaching 20-22 inches, the rich color and graceful form create striking vertical accents.

‘Marilyn’ features creamy white petals with rose-pink flames and feathering. Growing 22-24 inches tall, the delicate color variations and refined shape make it particularly romantic.

Fringed Tulips (Division 7)

Fringed tulips feature petals edged with delicate crystalline fringe, adding unique texture and visual interest.

‘Fancy Frills’ produces ivory-white petals heavily fringed and flushed with rose-pink. Growing 16-18 inches tall, the combination of color and texture is exceptionally delicate and feminine.

‘Fabio’ offers deep red petals with matching red fringe. Reaching 16-18 inches, the substantial blooms and unusual texture make it a standout in borders or containers.

‘Davenport’ displays bright yellow petals with bold red flames and matching fringe. Growing 18-20 inches tall, the bicolor effect combined with the fringed edges creates extraordinary visual interest.

‘Crispion Sweet’ features magenta-pink petals with white-fringed edges. The 16-18 inch stems carry blooms that combine bold color with delicate texture.

Viridiflora Tulips (Division 8)

Viridiflora tulips feature distinctive green markings or flames on their petals, creating sophisticated, unusual color combinations.

‘Spring Green’ produces ivory-white petals with broad green flames down the center of each petal. Growing 16-18 inches tall, the striking contrast between white and green is particularly elegant and long-lasting.

‘Golden Artist’ offers golden-yellow petals with green flames. Reaching 12-14 inches, the warm color combination and unusual patterning make it distinctive in borders or arrangements.

‘Groenland’ displays soft pink petals with green feathering and flames. Growing 18-20 inches tall, the subtle color blending creates refined, artistic effects.

‘Flaming Spring Green’ features white petals with green flames and additional pink and rose feathering. The 16-18 inch stems carry blooms with complex, ever-changing color patterns.

Rembrandt Tulips (Division 9)

True Rembrandt tulips (with virus-induced “broken” colors) are no longer commercially available, but this division now includes modern varieties bred for similar dramatic color breaks and flames.

‘Helmar’ produces creamy yellow petals dramatically streaked with red flames and feathering. Growing 18-20 inches tall, each bloom is uniquely patterned like a painter’s canvas.

‘Cordell Hull’ offers white petals with bold red flames. Reaching 20-22 inches, the dramatic contrast recalls the tulips depicted in Dutch Golden Age paintings.

Parrot Tulips (Division 10)

Parrot tulips feature large, ruffled petals with twisted, feathered edges, creating flamboyant, exotic blooms.

‘Rococo’ produces enormous red flowers with deeply fringed and twisted petals edged in yellow and green. Growing 16-18 inches tall, the theatrical blooms can reach 5-6 inches across when fully open.

‘Super Parrot’ offers white blooms heavily flamed with green and pink, with dramatically ruffled edges. Reaching 18-20 inches, the substantial flowers are long-lasting and weather-resistant for a Parrot type.

‘Black Parrot’ displays deep burgundy-black petals with heavy ruffling and feathering. Growing 18-20 inches tall, it’s less flamboyant than other Parrots but equally sophisticated.

‘Apricot Parrot’ features soft apricot-orange petals flushed with pink and green, with characteristic twisted edges. The 16-18 inch stems carry blooms that resemble exotic tropical flowers.

Double Late Tulips (Division 11)

Double Late tulips (also called Peony-flowered tulips) produce huge, fully double blooms on sturdy stems in late spring.

‘Angelique’ is the most beloved Double Late, producing soft pink flowers flushed with cream and white. Growing 16-18 inches tall, the peony-like blooms are lightly fragrant and exceptionally long-lasting, often persisting for two weeks or more.

‘Uncle Tom’ offers deep maroon-red double blooms. Reaching 14-16 inches, the rich, velvety flowers are substantial and create dramatic impact in borders or containers.

‘Mount Tacoma’ produces pure white double flowers with multiple layers of petals. Growing 16-18 inches tall, the clean color and full form make it perfect for elegant planting schemes.

‘Blue Diamond’ displays unique double flowers in deep purple-violet. Reaching 14-16 inches, the rich color and full form are unusual and striking.

Kaufmanniana Tulips (Division 12)

Kaufmanniana tulips are among the earliest to bloom, with flowers that open wide in sun, creating star or water lily shapes. They’re naturally dwarf and excellent for rock gardens.

‘Stresa’ produces yellow petals with red exteriors and bronze-red flames inside. Growing just 6-8 inches tall, the blooms open flat in sunshine to reveal the contrasting inner colors.

‘Heart’s Delight’ offers rose-pink petals with cream edges and pale yellow interiors. Reaching 8-10 inches, the delicate color combinations and compact size make it perfect for front-of-border plantings.

‘Johann Strauss’ displays creamy white petals with red exteriors and yellow bases. Growing 8-10 inches tall, the flowers open to reveal beautiful color contrasts.

Fosteriana Tulips (Division 13)

Fosteriana tulips bloom early with large, bold flowers on relatively short stems. They naturalize well and return reliably.

‘Red Emperor’ (Madame Lefeber) produces enormous scarlet-red flowers up to 6 inches across. Growing 14-16 inches tall, the massive blooms and vivid color create spectacular early spring impact.

‘Sweetheart’ offers lemon-yellow flowers with white edges. Reaching 12-14 inches, the large blooms and soft color combinations are particularly appealing.

‘Purissima’ displays huge creamy-white flowers that glow in spring light. Growing 14-16 inches tall, it’s one of the finest white tulips available and perennializes reliably.

Greigii Tulips (Division 14)

Greigii tulips feature distinctive mottled or striped foliage that provides ornamental value even before blooming. They’re naturally compact and perennialize well.

‘Red Riding Hood’ produces brilliant scarlet-red flowers above heavily mottled purple-brown and green foliage. Growing just 6-8 inches tall, the combination of striking flowers and decorative leaves makes it exceptional.

‘Toronto’ offers coral-red flowers with subtle orange tones above mottled foliage. Reaching 10-12 inches, it naturalizes particularly well and forms expanding clumps over time.

‘Pinocchio’ displays red flowers with cream-white edges above attractively striped leaves. Growing 8-10 inches tall, the bicolor blooms and decorative foliage provide extended interest.

Species Tulips (Division 15)

Species tulips are wild tulip forms and their close selections, typically smaller and more delicate than hybrid tulips, but exceptionally perennial.

‘Tulipa tarda’ produces clusters of star-shaped yellow flowers with white tips on 4-6 inch stems. Each bulb produces multiple flowers, and it naturalizes readily, spreading into charming drifts.

‘Tulipa clusiana’ (Lady Tulip) offers slender flowers with white petals and rose-red exteriors. Growing 8-10 inches tall, the delicate blooms close at night and in cloudy weather, opening to reveal the contrasting inner colors.

‘Tulipa turkestanica’ produces multiple star-shaped white flowers with yellow centers on 6-8 inch stems. Each bulb sends up several flowers, creating airy clusters in early spring.

‘Tulipa bakeri ‘Lilac Wonder’ displays rose-pink flowers with yellow bases. Reaching 6-8 inches, it multiplies reliably and creates expanding colonies in rock gardens or at the front of borders.

Planning Your Tulip Display

When selecting tulips, consider bloom time, height, color, and your garden conditions. For extended spring color, combine varieties from different divisions: plant Species and Kaufmanniana for early blooms, Triumph and Darwin Hybrids for mid-season, and Single Late and Double Late for late spring color.

For naturalizing (perennializing tulips), choose Darwin Hybrids, Species, Kaufmanniana, Fosteriana, and Greigii tulips, which reliably return for many years. Plant them deeply (8-10 inches) in well-drained soil with full sun.

For maximum visual impact, plant tulips in groups of at least 10-15 bulbs of the same variety. Mass plantings create far more drama than scattered individual bulbs. Consider color harmonies: combine analogous colors (yellow, orange, red) for warm schemes, or create contrast with complementary colors (purple and yellow, orange and blue).

All tulips require well-drained soil and full sun for best performance. Plant bulbs in fall when soil temperatures drop below 60°F, typically 6-8 weeks before the ground freezes. After blooming, allow foliage to yellow naturally before removing it, as this replenishes the bulb for next year’s display.

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