Tulip Flowers

With over 3,000 varieties available, the selection of colors, flower shapes, sizes and fragrances is spectacular.

Blooming from early into late spring, they provide an array of beautiful flowers in the landscape and as cut flowers for our homes.

Some varieties of tulips bloom beautifully for only one or two years, while others naturalize and continue to bloom for several years.

Almost all varieties of tulips are available in shades of white, yellow, orange, red, purple and black, in pastels shades or jewel tones. Some have stripes or streaks of colors.

The Royal Horticultural Association of Holland has grouped the many types of tulips into several official divisions, grouping them by bloom time, height of plant, colors and shape of flowers.

Tulip Divisions and their Characteristics

Single Early Tulips – bloom early spring; 8-20 inches; single, cup-shaped flower per stem; pointed petals.

Varieties include Christmas Dream, Diamond, Flair, Purple Prince and Sunray, along with scented Beauty Queen, Christmas Marvel, Diana and Bellona.

Double Early Tulips – bloom early spring; 8-16 inches; multiple petals; opens fully to 4 inches.

Varieties include Carlton, Orange Nassau and Sven Dahlman, along with scented Monte Carlo, Montreaux and Peach Blossom.

Triumph Tulips – bloom mid-spring; 8-26 inches; traditional shape; one flower per stem.

Varieties include Bing Crosby, Hibernia, Purple Star, White Dream and Don Quichotte, along with scented Bastogne, Salmon Jewel and Annie Schilder.

Darwin Hybrid Tulips – bloom mid to late spring; 12-34 inches; long-lived; one large, pyramid-shaped flower per stem.

Varieties include Burning Heart, Cream Jewel, Golden Apeldoorn, Orange Bowl, President Kennedy and Queen of the Night, along with scented Daydream, Holland's Glory and Oxford.

Single Late Tulips – (aka Mayflowering Tulips) bloom late spring; 9-32 inches; single large, oval bloom per stem.

Varieties include Big Smile, Dreamland, Greuze, Avignon and Big Smile, along with scented Dillenburg.

Lily-flowered Tulips – bloom late spring; 9-32 inches; single flower with six petals that flair outward per stem.

Varieties include Aladdin, China Pink, Elegant Lady and Mona Lisa, along with scented Ballerina.

Fringed Tulips – (aka Crispa Tulips) bloom times vary, most are late spring; 8-30 inches; single cup-shaped flower with satiny petal edges that appear fringed.

Varieties include Blue Heron, Burgundy Lace, Fancy Frills, Swan Wings and Hamilton.

Viridiflora Tulips – (aka Green Tulips) bloom times vary, most are late spring; long bloom; 10-30 inches; all have a green stripe on each petal; most have single cup-shaped flower per stem.

Varieties include Artist, Golden Artist, Pimpernel, Spring Green and Violet Bird.

Rembrandt Tulips – (aka Broken Tulips) various bloom times and sizes based on variety created from; all have stripes or streaks of red, yellow, purple, bronze, brown or black; variable shaped based on variety.

Varieties include Union Jack, Ice Follies, Burning Heart and Olympic Flame, along with scented Princess Irene and Keizerskroom.

Parrot Tulips – bloom mid to late spring; 12-28 inches; single, large, cup-shaped flower with feathered, twisted or curly petals that open almost flat; sensitive to cold and wet weather.

Varieties include Black Parrot, Blue Parrot, Texas Gold, Fantasy and Flaming Parrot, along with scented Apricot Parrot and Rococo.

Double Late Tulips – (aka Peony Tulips) bloom late spring; 12-24 inches; single multi-petalled flower per stem; sensitive to rain and wind.

Varieties include Carnaal de Nice, Lilac Perfection, Miranda, Yellow Tacoma and Uncle Tom, along with scented Angelique, Alegretto and Monsella.

Kaufmanniana Tulips – (aka Water Lily Tulips) bloom early spring; 4-12 inches; often striped or mottled; single cup-shaped flower per stem; opens almost flat in sun.

Varieties include Concerto, Fashion, Shakespeare, Johann Strauss, Giuseppe Verdi and Sweet Lady.

Fosteriana Tulips – (aka Emperor Tulips) bloom early spring; 10-20 inches; large, wide petals; single cup-shaped flower per stem; may be striped or mottled.

Varieties include Concerto, Golden Emperor, Zombie and Candela, along with scented White Emperor and Orange Emperor.

Griegii Tulips – bloom early spring; 6-16 inches; may be two-toned or streaked; single flower with six pointed petals per stem.

Varieties include Cape Cod, Chopin, Turkish Delight, Red Riding Hood, Pinocchio and Dreamboat.

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