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23 Types of Tulips for the Spring Garden

Darwin hybrid tulips with pink, yellow and bicolored flowers in garden

The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

Gardeners have a bewildering choice among more than 3,000 tulip varieties and cultivars. For convenience, various commercial bulb suppliers classify them into 15 groups based on bloom time, shape, and other characteristics, which is helpful when choosing tulips for your garden. 

Tulips originated in Central Asia, where they made their way to Holland through Turkey around 1560. Many of the 150 tulip species have been in cultivation since the 16th century so the original parentage of many modern cultivars is uncertain. To this day, though, most tulips prefer the kind of conditions common to the original native areas—porous, well-draining soil and full sun. Here are 23 popular tulip groups and varieties.

Choosing Tulips for Longevity

Highly specialized, exotic tulips tend to be more short-lived than the "commoners"—species tulips and the hybrids derived from crossing dependable varieties with a long track record of successful performance. If longevity and low maintenance are important to you, choose varieties that are known to last for more than one season. They will not only maintain themselves in the garden, but they may even spread and naturalize with no effort on your part.

  • 01 of 23

    Species Tulips

    Species tulips with bright red flowers surrounded by small gravel

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Species tulips are pure native species that have not been hybridized or bred to create named cultivars. While many hybrid tulips lose their vigor and decline over a few years, you can count on species tulips to multiply and form drifts. These Mediterranean and Asian natives tend to be petite, sporting flowers that open wide on sunny days. When opened, many of the blossoms reveal a contrasting color star on the petals. Many species tulips have attractive mottled or striped foliage.

    • Name: Species tulips (Tulipa spp.)
    • Native Area: Mediterranean regions, southern Eurasia
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 3–16 inches (depends on species)
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Blooming Period: Varies according to species
  • 02 of 23

    Darwin Hybrid Tulips

    Darwin hybrid tulips with light pink flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Reaching up to 34 inches in height, these hybrid tulips are some of the tallest tulips. They are a favorite for cut-flower arrangements, flowering about the same time as most daffodils. They thrive nicely for several years before losing their vigor. Plant Darwin hybrid tulips beside your house, fence, or shed to provide shelter from stem-snapping winds. Darwin tulips are also excellent candidates for forcing.

    • Name: Darwin hybrid tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 20 to 34 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: April
  • 03 of 23

    Triumph Tulips

    Triumph tulips with deep pink flowers closeup

    When you buy economy bags of mixed-color bulbs, they are most often Triumph tulips. These medium-sized tulips have single-petal flowers in the classic cup shape. They bloom earlier than Darwin hybrids and have shorter, heavier stems. Available in a wide spectrum of pastels, bright tones, and bi-colors, the reliable Triumph tulip is a garden designer's delight. Plant them deeply, at least 8 inches beneath the soil surface, to encourage several years of performance.

    • Name: Triumph tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 18–20 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: April
  • 04 of 23

    Grand Perfection Tulips

    grand perfection tulips

    MinttuFin / Getty Images

    In the world of tulip breeding, this is a relatively new variety, introduced in 1999. The eye-catching flowers start as soft yellowish adorned with crimson-red flames. As they mature, the flowers turn ivory-white with ruby-red flames. The flowers mimic the look of the 17th century Rembrandt tulips whose artsy pattern was caused by an infection with the mosaic virus but in fact, Grand Perfection tulips are Triumph tulips. Because of their short stems, they lend themselves to forcing.

    • Name: Grand Perfection tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 16-18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: April/May
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  • 05 of 23

    Apricot Beauty Tulips

    Apricot Beauty Tulips

    Janelle Lugge / Getty Images

    The flowers of this Triumph tulip variety never look exactly the same—the color intensity varies depending on the amount of sun that hits the flowers as well as on the point in time of the blooming period. The outside of the blooms is a soft salmon-rose with light apricot-colored edges and the start at the flower base is light green. 'Apricot Beauty' is fragrant and a popular tulip for forcing.

    • Name: Apricot Beauty (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 14-16 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: April/May
  • 06 of 23

    Double Tulips

    Double tulips with pink and white fluffy petals closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    These hybrid tulips and their cultivars have been bred to have fluffier, double-petal flowers rather than the normal single-petal blooms common to classic tulips. Colors include red, white, purple, pink, orange, yellow, and bicolors. One subcategory is peony tulips, so-called for their resemblance to peonies. Some varieties bloom in early spring and late spring, and there are both short and tall varieties. The bloom is fairly long-lasting. Some varieties are good for forcing.

    • Name: Double tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 14–22 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: April (Double Early), May (Double Late)
  • 07 of 23

    Double Ice Cream Tulips

    Double Ice Cream Tulips

    Sandris Veveris / Getty Images

    It’s obvious how this double (or peony) tulip got its name—the blooms, which do not open completely, look like an ice cream cone. The double white petals emerge from a base of deep pink petals. Because of its short stature, this variety is an excellent choice for the front of the border, along a patio, or walkway. With its large, long- lasting blooms, Double Ice Cream tulips also make stunning cut flowers. 

    • Name: Double Ice Cream tulips (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-9
    • Height: 12-16 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: May
  • 08 of 23

    La Belle Epoque Tulips

    La Belle Epoque Tulips

    Aleksandr Zhurilo / Getty Images

    This peony-like tulip features changing colors, unlike any other variety. The flowers start out copper-gold, then mature to salmon-apricot, followed by amber-rose and finally butter-caramel. And with each color change, it becomes more beautiful. This versatility in color, paired with a very long bloom time, makes this a much sought-after double late tulip variety.

    • Name: La Belle Epoque tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 16-18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: Late April
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  • 09 of 23

    Double Sun Lover Tulips

    Double Sun Lover Tulips

    Vladimir Gnedin / Getty Images

    When the flowers of this double-flowering late tulip first open, they are a rich golden yellow with variable tangerine-orange and red markings. As the flowers mature, they turn a deep orange with scarlet-red striations, opening wider with each passing day. The lush flowers of this tulip truly resemble a peony.

    • Name: Double Sun Lover tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones:
    • Height: 16-18 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: Late April
  • 10 of 23

    Fringed Tulips

    Fringed tulips with deep pink flowers serrated edges

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The fringed tulip category includes genetic mutations from tulips in other groups, chosen for the unique serrated, fringed edges on the petals. Because they originate in many different groups, the sizes and bloom times vary considerably within the group. Plant them in the front of the flower bed where you can admire their unusual anatomy. Flower colors include red, pink, white, purple, yellow, and bicolors. The variety ‘Cummins’ stands out with its deep lavender petals with a white fringe.

    • Name: Fringed tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 16–26 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: Late April to early May
  • 11 of 23

    Emperor Tulips (Fosteriana Tulips)

    Emperor/Fosteriana Tulips with bright orange and yellow curled flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This class of tulips originated with a species of early-blooming tulips native to central Asia. They have huge flowers reaching up to 8 inches across. They come in vivid, bright colors, including red, pink, orange, white, yellow, and bicolor. By the middle of April, emperor tulips give gardeners hungry for blooms a reliable spring show on sturdy stalks. They are also perfect for floral arrangements. Try ‘Orange Emperor’, which imparts a sweet fragrance in addition to its vivid petals.

    • Name: Emperor/Fosteriana tulip (Tulipa fosteriana)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 14–20 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: Late March
  • 12 of 23

    Greigii Tulips

    Greigii tulips with white and pink striped flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This category includes cultivars derived from the Tulipa greigii species native to Turkestan in Central Asia. Growing 8 to 12 inches tall, they have single flowers with a bowl shape, blooming in early to midspring, with up to three blooming stems per plant. Their maroon-spotted and striped leaves stand out in the garden. The flowers are quite large, up to 4 inches. Colors include red, orange, yellow, pink, and white. These tulips enjoy warm, dry soil in the summer, a good choice for rock gardens.

    • Name: Greigii tulip (Tulipa greigii)
    • Native Area: Turkestan
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 8–12 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Blooming Period: First week of April
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  • 13 of 23

    Kaufmanniana Tulips

    Kaufmanniana tulips with white and pink flowers

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    Modern Kaufmanniana tulips originated from a species native to the region now known as Turkestan. These are long-lived tulips that require very little care. They have a small stature, averaging 6 inches in height, which makes them suitable for areas with high winds. The flowers open wide in the sun, looking like a star, and often provide a completely different look and color than when closed. These tulips perennialize nicely in sunny areas where they don’t have to compete with other plants. Colors include rose, golden yellow, pink, purple, orange, red, and bicolors.

    • Name: Kaufmanniana tulip (Tulipa kaufmanniana)
    • Native Area: Turkestan
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 6 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Blooming Period: March
  • 14 of 23

    Lily-Flowered Tulips

    Lily-flowered tulips with bright pink and orange flowers in garden

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    The lily-flowered tulip class includes varieties bred to have pointed petals reminiscent of lily flowers. Your late spring garden should be graced by a dozen or more lily-flowering tulips, with their pointed, flared petals on urn-shaped blossoms. The flowers are tall, bold, and long-blooming. Colors include reds, orange, yellow, white, pink, purple, and bicolors. Enjoy the swirled cream, pink, and green hues of 'Florosa', or plant the heirloom yellow 'West Point' in combination with blue muscari bulbs.

    • Name: Lily-flowered tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 16–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Blooming Period: Late April to early May
  • 15 of 23

    Parrot Tulips

    Parrot tulip with bright orange flowers with fringed petals closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This unusual class of tulips includes mutations from certain Late-Flowering and Triumph group tulips. These showy tulips are the flamenco dancers of the garden. Their petals twist, feather, and curl on stems 12 to 28 inches in height, giving drama to the late spring garden border. The flowers beg to be added to your vase, but they usually won’t return after the second growing season. Plant a combination of 'Blue Parrot 'and 'Texas Gold' for a head-turning installation in your mailbox garden. Colors include red, yellow, white, pink, purple, and many bicolors.

    • Name: Parrot tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 14–22 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: May
  • 16 of 23

    Single Early Tulips

    Single early tulips with purple flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    As the name suggests, this class includes single-petaled tulips that bloom very early in the season, beginning in March. They bloom while the weather is still cool and are known for holding their blooms for a long time. Single Early tulips are also ideal for forcing in containers. Colors include red, orange, yellow, white, pink, purple, apricot, and bicolors.

    • Name: Single early tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 10–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: First week of April
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  • 17 of 23

    Yokohama Tulips

    Yellow Yokohama Tulips

    I Love Photo and Apple / Getty Images

    This single early tulip variety is appreciated for its long-lasting blooms and thick, sturdy stems, which allow it to withstand rain and wind and make it an excellent cutting flower. 'Yokohama' is a mid-sized tulip with deep yellow, pointy petals that exude a beautiful fragrance.

    • Name: Yokohama tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 14-16 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: First week of April
  • 18 of 23

    Purple Prince Tulips

    Purple Prince Triumph Tulips

    ValerijaP / Getty Images

    If you love the color purple, this tulip is for you. The large, lilac-purple flowers have a beet-colored purple interior. The flowers of these single early tulips are egg-shaped and long-lasting. Because of their early bloom and short stems, Purple Prince is a preferred tulip for indoor forcing to bloom between December and March.

    • Name: Purple Prince (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 14-16 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: Mid-April
  • 19 of 23

    Single Late Tulips

    Single late tulips with deep purple flowers on thin stems

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This class includes simple single-petaled tulips that bloom later in the spring after all other tulips have faded. Growing nearly 3 feet tall, these are among the tallest tulips. Their sturdy stems stand up well to windy conditions, plus they're more heat tolerant than other varieties. Colors include red, yellow, white, pink, purple, apricot, and bicolors. "French" single late tulips have a distinctive oblong-shaped flower. Another subcategory, the multi-flowering tulips, includes varieties with four or more flower stalks per plant.

    • Name: Single late tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 16–30 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Blooming Period: May
  • 20 of 23

    Queen of Night Tulips

    Queen of the night tulips with black flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This is not only one of the tallest tulips available, its dark purple, almost black color also stands out in a flower border or arrangement. The long-lasting, velvety blooms of this single late tulip are oval and the stems are sturdy so it also makes a good cut flower.

    • Name: Queen of Night (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 24-30 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, part shade
    • Blooming Period: May
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  • 21 of 23

    Bleu Aimable Tulips

    Light purple, almost blue, tulips

    lingkongc / Getty Images

    While there are no blue tulips, this single late tulip is as close as you can get to a pure blue. First cultivated in 1910, the award-winning tulip is a classic. It has lush, deep lilac to lavender blue blooms blushed with magenta. The blue tint is most noticeable on the outer base of the petals but there is more blue color hidden inside the flowers: The cup-shaped flowers have a small interior white center with a blue halo.

    • Name: Bleu Aimable tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3-8
    • Height: 20-22 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: May
  • 22 of 23

    Viridiflora Tulips

    Viridiflora tulips with pink and green elongated petals closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This group of tulips is something of a novelty and is perhaps the least important class, but the uniqueness of these varieties makes them highly prized. The blooms on Viridiflora tulips generally have streaks of green falling over a complementary color. These are mid- to late-blooming tulips of moderate size. The blooms can be very large, as much as 3 inches across. These tulips can be especially attractive in vases. Colors include green streaks on pink, orange, yellow, or red.

    • Name: Viridiflora tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 12–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade
    • Blooming Period: Late May
  • 23 of 23

    Rembrandt Tulips

    Rembrandt tulips with pink and white streaked flowers closeup

    The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova

    This unusual tulip group includes tulip varieties that mix two or three colors in broken streaks. Originally caused by a virus, today's varieties are bred specifically for their unique look. The main color, often red, white, or yellow, has streaks of another color running randomly through the petals. While they look similar to Darwin tulips, Rembrandts have a classic cup shape with straight edges on the petals. Colors include yellow, white, or red streaked with other colors. These are short-lived tulips that will need to be replaced after a year or two.

    • Name: Rembrandt tulip (Tulipa x)
    • Native Area: Nursery hybrid
    • USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
    • Height: 15–24 inches
    • Sun Exposure: Full sun
    • Blooming Period: May
FAQ
  • Which tulips keep coming back every year?

    Species tulips are typically the most long-lived tulips and are a primary choice if you want a truly perennial tulip. Some varieties of other tulips, including Kaufmannia, Greigii, Giant Darwin, and Emperor tulips also come back, lasting for two to three blooming periods.

  • How many different varieties of tulips are there?

    There are more than 3,000 registered tulip varieties and new ones are added on an ongoing basis.

  • What's an easy tulip to grow for beginners?

    Tulips with strong stems are generally the easiest to grow. Varieties often included in tulip collections for beginners include ‘World Friendship’ (Triumph), ‘Oriental Beauty’ (Kaufmannia), ‘Orange Brilliant’ (Fosteriana), and Temple of Beauty’ (single late tulip). Regardless of the type, choosing large bulbs when planting tulips is important for successfully growing tulips.