SALE
Ships in FALL

Red Emperor Tulip

Tulipa fosteriana

$11.99
$11.99 $15.99
per Bag of 10
Sale | Save 25%
ZONES  3-8 | Good to grow! Zone
No shipping data More Information

An all-time world favorite, Red Emperor boasts huge, bright red blooms that open wide to show off brilliant yellow and black blotches in the center. Great for naturalizing and cutting. (Tulipa fosteriana)

Videos
 

Red Emperor Tulip

We'll let you know when the product is back in stock so you don't miss it.

By submitting your email, you agree to receive notifications according to our Privacy Policy.

Product Recommendations

Description

This is the No. 1 favorite of many gardeners. And no wonder. They are inexpensive, foolproof to grow, the blooms are early and enormous, and they come back year after year. Most experts talk about how tall' the blooms are, but if you've ever grown them, the real spectacle is after they've been open awhile, and the petals begin to flatten out until the whole bloom looks a lot like a huge red poppy. And inside? Brilliant yellow and black blotches, making the display a real knock-out.

The Emperors are great for cutting as well, and they'll open wide for you in a vase, just like they do out in the yard. It's not uncommon for the wide-open blooms to be over 5' across.

Emperor tulips are old hybrids, but have been one of US gardeners favorites from the beginning. The famous antique print shown below is not a Red Emperor, but an even earlier hybrid that looks very much like it, and shows the wide-open bloom habit with yellow center.

No tulip display is complete without Red Emperors. And if you've never planted them, you're in for a real treat. If you want a long period of bloom, a combination of early Emperors and late-blooming Darwin Hybrids will give you a full bloom look for over a month. And if you just love red, mix these with Oxford, the red Darwin Hybrid, and you can't miss.

And one more tip. Be sure to plant a few Red Emperors just for cutting. If you cut the stems, chances are they won't 'come back' next spring, but who can resist? Just two or three Red Emperor Tulips in a vase create a self-arranging bouquet your friends won't believe. These huge tulips actually keep 'growing in the vase', elongating and opening their brilliant red flowers with dramatic yellow/black centers. In a few days, you'll have a floral spectacle in your house, as these amazing flowers open wide and look more like huge red poppies or waterlilies than tulips. Something you'll never enjoy if you leave them all out in the yard!

Planting & Care

Further Reading:

Shipping

No shipping data

As soon as your order is placed you will receive a confirmation email. You will receive a second email the day your order ships telling you how it has been sent. Some perennials are shipped as potted plants, some as perennial roots packed in peat.  The ‘Plant Information’ section describes how that item will ship. All perennials and fall-planted bulbs are packaged to withstand shipping and are fully-guaranteed. Please open upon receipt and follow the instructions included.

Perennials and fall-planted bulbs are shipped at the proper planting time for your Growing Zone. Perennial and fall-planted bulb orders will arrive separately from seeds. If your order requires more than one shipment and all items are shipping to the same address, there is no additional shipping charge. See our shipping information page for approximate ship dates and more detailed information. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at (802) 227-7200 or contact us by email or chat.

View

key features

Advantages
  • Bee Friendly
  • Easy To Grow
  • Cut Flowers
  • Container Planting
Light Requirements
  • Full Sun
  • Half Sun / Half Shade
Bloom Time
Early spring

Additional information

Planting Time
  • Fall
Soil Moisture
  • Average
  • Dry
Soil Type
  • Well-Drained Soil
  • Loamy Soil
Mature Height
14-16" tall
Bulb Spacing
9 per sq ft
Flower Bulb Size
12 cm
Planting Depth
5" deep
Growing Zones
  • Zone 3
  • Zone 4
  • Zone 5
  • Zone 6
  • Zone 7
  • Zone 8
Ideal Region
  • Midwest
  • Northeast
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Southeast
  • Southwest
  • West
Additional Information
9 per sq ft
Expand For More