Tulip Types Explained: How To Choose Tulips
What would spring be without Tulips? This simple, colorful flower has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the globe for hundreds of years.
Which Tulips Come Back Every Year?
This is the most common question that gets asked over and over every spring!
Some varieties will come back for several years. For these Tulips, often referred to as perennial, they will return when their planting conditions are ideal: cold winters, winter-spring moisture, sunny location, dry summers, and good drainage are the keys to success.
Learn More: How To Encourage Your Tulips To Come Back
Tulips that return every year are wonderful for meadowscaping, low-maintenance perennial garden borders, and large-scale plantings. Tulip varieties that are the most reliable perennials:
Some varieties are treated more as annuals, meaning that they are often replanted every year or every few years to guarantee the best possible blooms the next spring. These include favorites for cut flowers, with long, elegant stems and spectacularly large blooms. These include some of the most decorative and enticing Tulip varieties:
9 Tulip Types
- Emperor are among the best varieties for perennializing or naturalizing. They are hardy, easy-to-grow Tulips. They are known for large 5" flowers and rich, bright colors.
- Early spring blooms harmonize well with Daffodils, Crocus, and Siberian Squill.
- These are on the more compact side, with heights ranging from 10-14 inches tall.
- The Wildflower Tulips are a must-have in the spring garden. Sturdy and perennial, they will even naturalize and spread.
- We call several species “wildflower” types as they are closely related to their original ancestors.
- but still offer bold color with jewel-like flowers in early spring.
- They are shorter in stature, no more than 12 inches tall.
- Perhaps one of the most reliably perennial, Darwin Hybrids will come back each year for several springs when happy.
- These mid-spring bloomers have large flowers on strong, sturdy stems that open to almost 6" across.
- These are among the tallest Tulips, at 18-24 inches tall.
Single Early Tulips & Single Late Tulips
- With a single cup of petals on tall, delicate stems, Single Tulips are the epitome of elegance.
- This group is divided into Single Early Tulips or Single Late Tulips based on bloom time.
- Single Early Tulips can be early spring bloomers, with a small-to-mid-size height range of 10-18" tall.
- Single Late Tulips are late spring bloomers, and are some of the tallest tulips, with heights ranging from 18-30 inches tall.
- The largest group of tulips, with the most spectacular color varieties available, Triumph Tulips are usually treated as annuals. Like annual wildflowers, these will put all of their energy into one season of spectacular blooms.
- They are mid-spring blooming (about 10 days before Darwin), on medium tall, sturdy stems.
- These mid-size-to-tall Tulips range from 16-22 inches tall.
- With a flair for the fancy, Fringed Tulip’s petals are trimmed with a fine fringe to add beautiful layered of texture to your garden.
- Enjoy a pop of color during their mid-to-late spring bloom time. Long lasting blooms make this tulip a garden favorite.
- These mid-size tulips range from 12-16 inches tall.
- With long-lasting, large flowers and layers of petals, the luscious layers of petals on Double Tulips can almost be mistaken for a Peony flower.
- Blooming in late spring, they combine well with Hyacinth, Daffodils and Daylilies that will bloom just after, and hide the fading tulip foliage.
- These mid-size Tulips range from 12-18 inches tall.
- Parrot Tulips are garden rock stars that are especially beautiful as cut flowers,
- With ridged and ruffled petals, Parrot Tulips add a touch of texture and a note of drama to the late spring garden. find a sheltered spot for these Tulips, as their heavy flowers often need support.
- On the taller side, heights range from 18-22 inches tall.
- Elegant and lovely, the reflexed, pointed petals of the Lily Flowered Tulip make this a perfect tulip for cut flowers, or planting where their special form can be appreciated.
- Late spring blooming, they open like stars for a grand finale to the tulip season.
- On the taller side, heights range from 18-24 inches tall.
Tips For Planting Tulips
For full details on how to plant Tulip bulbs, see our guide: How To Grow Tulips
- Make sure your spot is well-drained and will receive springtime sun.
- We recommend adding some organic bulb food at planting time as well.
- If gophers and squirrels are a problem, or hungry deer, you'll need to protect your Tulips. See our guide: How To Critter-Proof Your Fall Bulb Planting.
Expert Tip:
- One challenge of bulb buying is that they must be planted in fall. When it's time to plant in fall, last year’s bulbs are no longer visible in the garden. Where was that spot that needed more Tulips?
- Take photos for reference, or place a marker in your garden to make a note of what you'd like to plant.
- Pre-ordering bulbs in spring is perfect - you can take inspiration and ideas from spring blooms, and take advantage of the best prices of the season on flower bulbs from American Meadows. We'll ship when it's time to plant in fall!
Tulip Over The Centuries
How did so many amazing types of Tulips come to be? For centuries, this simple flower has captured the hearts and minds of people around the world. They have been in cultivations for hundreds of years. Over time, they have taken on forms so varied and unique that sometimes we might not even recognize them as Tulips.
Tulips are native to a region including North Africa, southern Europe, the Middle East, and across to the steppes of Mongolia and Siberia. They have been cultivated and coveted in gardens across its native range for centuries.
By the late 16th century, Tulips had made their way to the Netherlands, and the rest, as they say, is history. Dutch enthusiasm for the new flowers resulted in a breeding heyday. By 1630, Tulip bulbs were traded and sold for enormous sums of money. One bulb of the famous red-and-white-striped Semper Augustus Tulip was sold for 10,00 guilders, an amount that could have purchased a grand home on the canal, over 10 times the yearly income of a craftsman. By early 1637, the bubble burst, but Tulips were firmly planted. Today the Netherlands is synonymous with Tulips and is the largest Tulip bulb producer in the world.