Blue Tulips: Do They Exist Naturally?

The color blue can be calming and peaceful or frosty and depressive. Its effect on the viewer depends largely on its application, its intensity, and on whether the particular shade of blue tends toward warm or cold.

On the turquoise side of the spectrum, blue is often used in beach cottage decor to mimic the water and create a relaxing vibe. Conversely, darker hues are often employed where a moody, loungy atmosphere is desired.

In the garden, blue is one of the most sought after flower colors, but also one of the most elusive. Of the roughly 300,000 plant species in the world, less than 10 percent of them produce blue flowers naturally. And most of the cultivars that claim to be blue are actually shades of purple or red.

So do blue tulips actually exist? Let’s dig in a little deeper and look at the nuances of tulip flower color, and what you can expect when looking for a “true blue” tulip.

The Short Answer

The short answer really depends in part on how far you’re willing to stretch the definition of “blue” and how your own personal eye perceives color. But the reality is, despite there being many tulip cultivars with the word ‘blue’ in their names, most botanists would tell you that the answer is definitively no, there are no “true blue” colored tulips. Most tulips you would consider a “true blue” color are artificially colored with dye.

The Long Answer

In the flower world, blue is known as a co-pigmentation, which means it’s only produced naturally if several factors come together in the right way. The primary pigment in blue is called anthocyanin, which produces red hues unless it’s acted on by a chemical change.

In species that produce true blue flowers – like hydrangeas, delphinium, morning glory, and bluebells – early buds are actually pink. They only turn blue because they’re sensitive to acid levels, molecules, and ions in the soil. The tulip does not fall into this category, so it will not have “true blue” colored flowers.

Explaining True Blue

With all the chemistry talk behind us, we should also consider how individuals and their unique eye structures perceive color in radically different ways. Because sometimes this is the difference in one person seeing blue tulips and another person seeing purple.

At its most basic, blue is a primary color that’s located on the spectrum between green and purple. As shades move toward purple, there’s a distinct point where many of us will stop seeing blue, but not all of us.

A complicated process that involves wavelengths and cone receptors, seeing color can be different for each of us. The Royal Horticultural Society Color Chart recognizes 920 pigments and has become the universal go-to for identifying and categorizing flower colors.

But due to differences in our perception, we may not all agree on a botanist’s decision to choose one color over the other in its official flower description.

Why Are Some Tulips Classified as Blue?

The answer to this question is, for the most part, wishful thinking. Knowing that blue is elusive and much coveted in the garden, tulip growers will often use the color generously to describe new hybrids and tulip cultivars that are actually shades of purple. 

It’s also the result of some of us having a more broad perception of what the color blue is and some of us being so accustomed to the color’s loose application in ornamental horticulture, that we just accept the misnomer as part of the industry.

Which Varieties Are Considered Blue?

If you’re willing to expand your notion of the color blue and select tulips that are not what we would call ‘true blue,’ there are plenty of cultivars to choose from. Here, we’ve assembled a list of some that could be considered close enough.

Tulipa ‘Blue Wow’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 18-24 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Mid/Late Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

Shaped like an artichoke with many dense layers contained in a sturdy green and white cradle of sepals, ‘Blue Wow’ is actually a rich grape color that deepens in intensity as bloom time progresses.

Stems are long at up to 24 inches, and blossoms are large and round. Color will be boldest when planted in full sun, but the variety can also handle locations where there is dappled shade.

Tulipa ‘Blue Beauty’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 16-18 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Mid Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

Petals on this Triumph category tulip are a deep rose color with a satin sheen that glints blue in the sunlight. Blooms are single layer and cup-shaped.

Stems are sturdy and moderate in height at 16 inches, making ‘Blue Beauty’ a good choice for the middle of a mixed spring border.

Tulipa ‘Blue Aimable’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 22-24 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Mid/Late Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

In certain light conditions, ‘Blue Aimable’ can appear to have cornflower colored blooms, but petals are actually violet with a light feathering of lavender. A Single Late category tulip, this cultivar blooms for a long time on long, sturdy stems and makes a nice cut flower.

This variety is easy to grow and has a simple profile that pairs well with many other tulip varieties. Use it in a border of mixed pastels and it will stand tall above the rest, waving flexibly in the breeze. Force it to flower early indoors for some blue(ish) joy in late winter.

Tulipa ‘Blue Diamond’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 16-20 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Mid/Late Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

White feathering at the margins of predominantly lilac-colored petals can give the illusion of blue on this mid to late blooming tulip. Blossoms are peony-form and quite large with yellow centers and an incurving shape.

Plant this variety with blue pansies and creeping phlox for a spring border that reads mostly blue despite the presence of purple.

Tulipa ‘Blue Parrot’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 16-24 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Late Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

Mostly lilac but with streaks of cornflower, ‘Blue Parrot’ has a blue personality even if it’s not a perfect specimen. Growing up to 2 feet tall and blooming in late spring, this cultivar features ruffled petals that curve inward at night but flatten out during the day.

Early buds are green and attractive on this Parrot class tulip, giving the cultivar a particularly long period of appreciation in the garden. Somewhat vulnerable to rain and wind, it should only be planted in areas with some protection from the elements.

Tulipa ‘Cummins’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 18-20 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Mid/Late Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

A Fringed group tulip that’s officially described as royal lavender blue, ‘Cummins’ features blooms that are a blend of purples and can appear blue(ish) in direct sunlight. Petals have white serrated edges that flex backward slightly at the tips.

Foliage is bright green and curls up around flower heads to cradle blooms nicely. Plant in a large mass for a striking display or in a small group for a standout bouquet.

Tulipa ‘Blueberry Ripple’

• Geographic Origin: Central Asia
• Plant Size: 16-20 inches
• Sun Exposure: Full Sun
• Bloom Time: Late Spring
• Plant Zone: 3-8

Blossoms are elegant and egg-shaped on this unique bi-color tulip. Petals feature rich cobalt flames at the bottom and snow white edging at the top. Stems are long and strong, maxing out at 20 inches.

‘Blueberry Ripple’ has a sweet, pleasant scent that makes it a lovely choice for walkway plantings and porch pots. As a Triumph tulip, it also forces easily indoors for some early spring joy.