17 Perennial Tulips That Bloom Reliably Every Year

Spring doesn’t feel like spring without tulips. Apart from daffodils, these are the bulbs I associate most with the season. Interesting shapes, vivid colors that look almost unreal, and long stems ideal for cutting make these the ultimate spring flowers.

Unfortunately, not all tulips are perennials. There are many different tulip types, some of which only flower effectively in the first year. If you want repeat blooms year after year, you have to be careful about which tulips you choose.

Tulipa clusiana

Since species tulips (also known as botanical tulips) are the most reliable perennials, it makes sense to start with a popular one – Tulipa clusiana. They are known as lady tulips, with pointed petals and a short stature that works well along pathways or in containers.

T. clusiana flowers are two-toned, with a bright white color on the inside of the flower that instantly catches the eye. There are a few cultivars to try, but my favorite has to be the candy-colored ‘Peppermint Stick’.

Tulipa humilis

Tulipa humilis is another botanical type with similar star-shaped blossoms. These adorable bulbs only grow around 8 inches tall, but their foliage and bright flowers still make a big impact. They are also wonderfully low-maintenance and great option for beginners.

As perennial tulips, Tulipa humilis bloom again every year and naturalize, spreading spring color around your garden. Choose pastel-colored cultivars for a soft spring look, or more dramatic jewel tones to stand out.

Tulipa sylvestris

If you’re after a more natural forest look, the wild species is ideal. These perennial tulips adapt well to a wide range of conditions and come back each year with little effort from you. They naturalize well, perfect for filling empty gaps in cottage gardens.

The flowers of Tulipa sylvestris are bright yellow and have an interesting lemon scent to match. The tall stems are hard to miss in the garden and are great for cutting. Plant these bulbs in full sun if you want to see masses of flowers year after year.

Tulipa turkestanica

Sticking with the wild and natural look, next on the list is Tulipa turkestanica. You may also see them labeled Turkestan tulips after their native region. Remaining under 10 inches tall, these adorable plants are perfect for the front of a border.

Tulipa turkestanica has white blossoms with sunny yellow centers that welcome the spring season. One plant produces many blooms in a season, making them great options for single pots.

Tulipa acuminata

Tulipa acuminata has the most unique look of all the perennial tulips on this list. The flowers still have the classic upright shape, but the petals are thin and wispy. This gives them a delicate look, despite their impressive size.

These flowers are not only appreciated for their shape but also for their stunning color. The base is a soft yellow blending into red at the tips. Sitting on top of tall stems, the flowers look like small flames in the garden.

‘Little Princess’

‘Little Princess’ is not one single species tulip, but a cross between two (T. hageri and T. aucheriana). This means they retain their perennial and naturalizing nature, spreading and coming back year after year when planted in the right environments.

Much like T. acuminata, the flowers of ‘Little Princess’ also have fiery hues. The centers are an ashy brown with a yellow border and orange on the tips. These tiny plants only grow to a few inches tall, but their color makes them easy to spot.

‘Little Beauty’

‘Little Beauty’ is one of the most popular perennial tulips. One look at the blooms, and it’s easy to see why. While the blooms appear bright pink from the outside, the inside of the flower reveals bluish-purple and white hues, too.

Despite this intricate look and fascinating coloring, ‘Little Beauty’ is not difficult to grow.  If you plant in the right spot with plenty of sun, you shouldn’t have any trouble keeping them happy. For tulip beginners, ‘Little Beauty’ is a great choice.

‘Purissima’

‘Purissima’ is a fosterinana tulip. These are also known as emperor tulips, which is why you may find this perennial labeled ‘White Emperor’. For neutral garden color schemes, you can’t go wrong with ‘Purissima’.

The stems are over 15 inches tall, ideal for cutting. The flowers are also known for their impressive size. These perennial tulips are a wonderful addition to cutting gardens as the ivory flowers work well in almost any arrangement.

‘Spring Green’

‘Spring Green’ is another popular tulip, and arguably one of the most sought-after perennial tulips on the market. These flowers have a classic spring look – white petals with a touch of green down the center.

This is a viridiflora tulip, known for its reliable blooming. Plant them amongst leafy spring species to highlight the green coloring. Blooms also last long, both in the garden and in a vase.

‘Exotic Emperor’

‘Exotic Emperor’ is similar in color to ‘Spring Green’. However, the double flowers look closer in form to peonies than the traditional tulips you may recognize. This interesting shape, combined with reliable flowering, makes this tulip a must-have in your bulb garden.

Like ‘Purissima’, this is a fosterinana or emperor tulip. It naturalizes easily in sunny parts of the garden and grows around 15 inches tall. The long stems look just as stunning in a vase, ideal for cut flower gardens.

‘Artist’

I think every bulb enthusiast has a favorite tulip (or a couple), and this one is mine. Not just because it flowers again each year, but because of the stunning colors of the petals.

‘Artist’ is an apt name for this viridiflora tulip. The petals sport a blend of peach, orange, yellow, purple, and green that look like a watercolor painting. You’ll struggle to find another tulip with coloring this eye-catching.

‘Impression’

Moving on to another tulip type, Darwins also have the ability to flower again. They may not last as long in the garden as species tulips, but you will see them flower reliably for several years. ‘Impression’ is a series with the classic tulip look, coming in a range of vivid colors.

‘Red Impression’ is one of the more popular types, along with the bright ‘Pink Impression’. However, if you want something a little softer for spring, try ‘Apricot Impression’ or ‘Salmon Impression’.

‘Queen of Night’

If you’ve started a trendy goth garden or need to bring some dark drama to containers or beds, ‘Queen of Night’ is the answer. If you’ve seen pictures of almost-black tulips online, it’s probably this variety. The petals appear black but have a purple shimmer in direct sunlight where they flower the best.

This single late tulip is considered a perennial, but flowering will decline after a few years. If you want masses of dramatic blooms, grow them as short-lived perennials and replant after a few years.

‘Shirley’

Continuous interest in your spring garden is delivered by the sought-after ‘Shirley’ tulip. The flowers of this perennial tulip start out a creamy white, slowly becoming blush pink with purple edging as the flower ages.

These blooms look stunning in the garden and even better when brought indoors for your arrangements in late spring. If you’re a fan of ruffled double blooms, try the newer ‘Double Shirley’ instead.

‘Negrita’

‘Negrita’ is a triumph tulip, a fitting name for this group. When you picture a traditional tulip, both in shape and almost-unreal bright color, this is the type you’re thinking of. There are several stunning tulips in this group, but since we’ve had few purple options so far, I suggest ‘Negrita’.

Tulip ‘Negrita’ has rich purple flowers with a royal feel, perfect for pairing with pink or salmon-colored bulbs in a spring garden. They will flower again the following year but are generally considered short-lived perennials.

‘Don Quichotte’

‘Don Quichotte’ is also a triumph tulip with rich flowers, but with a rosey-pink color that screams spring. ‘Don Quichotte’ is known for its reliability, flowering well in the first year and for several years after.

The flower stems of this variety are tall, encouraging cutting and use in arrangements. While some tulips can handle partial shade, this one will perform far better in a position with full sun.

‘Ballerina’

Among the orange tulips, ‘Ballerina’ is one of the most well-known. This variety has been grown for many years and retained its popularity, proving its reliability in the garden.