23 Showstopping Tulip Varieties You Likely Haven’t Tried

Tulips, our beloved spring-flowering bulbs, are a gorgeous way to add easy sweeps of color. They exist in a range of shapes and sizes, from classic cupped petals to parrot, peony, fringed, and lily types (among other divisions). They appear in every color of the spectrum except true blue, but the deep purples get close.

Their aesthetic runs from clean and classic to frilly and decadent – it’s no wonder they spawned tulip mania in the 1630s in the Netherlands, where the exotics from the Himalayas to the Balkans in Central Asia were valued and traded like stocks. Their exquisite forms on long, slender stems are distinctive and to be admired.

‘Blue Spectacle’

	common name ‘Blue Spectacle’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Blue Spectacle’
	height 22-24”

We mentioned that tulips don’t come in true blue, but ‘Blue Spectacle’ heads in that direction. Deep purple-blue shades grace fully-petaled double blooms.

‘Blue Spectacle’ is a peony form with layered petals in full rounds. The large bulbs and bloomers boast a longer-lasting bloom time than some other varieties. 

Peony types (also called double late) benefit from protection from strong winds and driving rain, where feasible. The large blossoms are susceptible to damage in weather extremes.

‘China Town’

	common name ‘China Town’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘China Town’
	height 12”

‘China Town’ is a Viridiflora type and among the longest-blooming, lasting for three weeks in late spring. They extend the display as earlier bloomers fade.

In addition to their long-lasting flowers are characteristic petal markings: each has a rich, green-feathered streak down the center. ‘China Town’ offers the prettiest contrast in pale pink and moss green. The foliage has creamy margins that highlight the cupped petals.

Viridiflora is the smallest of the tulip groups and houses unique beauties like ‘China Town’ as well as green selections and richer pigments. ‘China Town’ is an Award of Garden Merit recipient from the Royal Horticultural Society. Other award-winning Viridifloras include ‘Artist’ in rich orange, ‘Esperanto’ in rose pink, and ‘Spring Green’ in elegant white.

‘Little Princess’

	common name ‘Little Princess’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Little Princess’
	height 4”

Dwarf tulips make perfect front-of-the-border accents with other bulbs or in a naturalized drift. ‘Little Princess’ is a hybrid with fiery red-orange petals and a yellow ring around deep chocolate centers. 

While only a few inches tall, their bright blooms are eye-catching in the early garden. ‘Little Princess’ naturalizes in the right growing conditions and is an Award of Garden Merit selection. 

Tulipa ‘Red Riding Hood’ is also an AGM recipient and a favorite with striking flowers and foliage. Carmine petals top gray-blue leaves that have delicate deep red streaks. ‘Red Riding Hood’ naturalizes well for years of recurrent color. 

‘Copper Image’

	common name ‘Copper Image’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Copper Image’
	height 16-20”

‘Copper Image’ is romantic, deep, and complex in its layering and hues. Its luscious cups hold loads of petals in antique shades. Soft peach, apricot, salmon, and rose create a muted glow and warm neutral. 

Beautiful in bouquets, the double flowers appear mid to late season. These are a must-have for gardeners who enjoy fresh arranging.

‘Columbus’

	common name ‘Columbus’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Columbus’
	height 12-16”

‘Columbus’ is a sculptural, double-layered peony tulip. The stacked petals are bicolor in carmine pink and creamy white with rich contrast.

Dense petals pack the huge flowers, mostly reddish-pink with white edging. The long-lasting flowers are excellent in fresh florals and make full bouquets.

‘Crystal Beauty’

	common name ‘Crystal Beauty’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Crystal Beauty’
	height 16-22”

‘Crystal Beauty’ embraces the bold and the beautiful. In fiery orange and red, the large petals have bright, orange-yellow fringes. These brighten up the landscape with an overstated glow and delicate details.

Fringed, or crispa, tulips have slightly frayed, minutely dissected edges. Many arose from mutations in single late tulips (the large, classically elegant cupped tulips).

‘Akebono’

	common name ‘Akebono’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Akebono’
	height 20-24”

‘Akebono’ pleases in primrose yellow, appearing lit from within. Some blossoms show the finest pink-red liner along their edges. Subtle green streaks occasionally highlight the outer petals. 

‘Akebono’ looks like a double Darwin hybrid – perfect form with more petals. It’s also a tough performer, easy to grow in the cutting garden, and bears a delicate fragrance to boot.

‘Gudoshnik Double’

	common name ‘Gudoshnik Double’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Gudoshnik Double’
	height 14-20”

‘Gudoshnik Double’ is complex in its layered petals and coloration. Red, pink, and gold appear in brushstrokes against the multi-toned background.

The broad peony type adds drama and a burst of vivid tangerine. Fortunately, ‘Gudoshnik’ has sturdy stems to support the large flowerheads. They withstand variable weather and make a lasting cut flower.

‘Jacuzzi’

	common name ‘Jacuzzi’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Jacuzzi’
	height 16-18”

‘Jacuzzi’ sounds as soothing as it looks. Its coloration creates a froth of pale pink and silvery purple. Soft, soothing tones are perfect for a pastel drift on their own or to complement yellows, whites, blues, and dark purples.

‘Jacuzzi’s’ lovely cupped petals are deeper purple tones in the center with lighter gradation toward the edges. The composition echoes deep to shallow and a whirlpool of swirling water.

‘Hotpants’

	common name ‘Hotpants’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Hotpants’
	height 18-22”

‘Hotpants’ shakes up the scene with a tapestry of creamy white blooms with contrasting magenta bands. Like they’ve been dipped in dye, the silky raspberry-red pairs also show tiny speckles on the milky surfaces.

‘Hotpants’ adds tasteful flair and fun to the garden bed, containers, and fresh-cut florals. They’re in the Triumph division, which is known for their cup shapes on strong, mid-size stems. Triumph is the largest group of tulips and has a diverse color spectrum.

‘Mount Tacoma’

	common name ‘Mount Tacoma’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Mount Tacoma’
	height 20-22”

For the classic tulip lover, ‘Mount Tacoma’ is a 1924 heirloom with decadent petaling. The elegant double blooms hold what seems like layers upon layers of creamy white.

The overall look is full, ornamental, and crisp. ‘Mount Tacoma’ has a late-spring display with a long bloom time for weeks of abundant white. On long stems, they make gorgeous cut flowers. Grow these among an evergreen backdrop where the pure blossoms stand out among dark green foliage.

‘Orange Cassini’

	common name ‘Orange Cassini’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Orange Cassini’
	height 15-18”

‘Orange Cassini’ brings glowing copper edges to a satiny blend of coral and pinks amid dark reds. The mid to late-season bloomers punch up the composition with warm cheer.  

‘Orange Cassini’ belongs to the Triumph division. Like others in their class, they’re high performers with reliable blooming and sturdy stems that endure spring weather.

‘Ice Cream’

	common name ‘Ice Cream’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Ice Cream’
	height 12-16”

‘Ice Cream’ is a wild one that will stop visitors in their tracks – berry pink petals hold a conical bundle of smaller petals and resemble a pretty cup of vanilla cream. To add to the fun, the pink outer petals have green streaks. 

The creamy cones open as flowers mature, adding to the full bowl. This showstopping double tulip variety brings a scoop of eye-catching whimsy.

‘Vovos’

	common name ‘Vovos’
	botanical name Tulipa x gesneriana ‘Vovos’
	height 16”

‘Vovos’ is a wildly exotic-looking parrot type with huge, feathery blooms that measure over four inches. The ruffles blend lilac, mauve, tawny, and peach shades in a sorbet swirl. 

The frilled, semi-double blooms lend a tropical flair. They look complex but are as easy to grow as other selections.

​​With parrot types, flowers can hold multicolors on a single, frilled petal. Protect them from weather extremes like strong winds when possible, as these can damage the showy plumage.

‘Little Beauty’

	common name ‘Little Beauty’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Little Beauty’
	height 3-6”

A perennial star-shaped tulip, ‘Little Beauty’ features outward bright magenta tones. Its interior cup opens in the sun to reveal patterns of steely blue and white on the interior.

‘Little Beauty’ is a petite botanical tulip that naturalizes in optimal conditions. Its prolific color and easy performance earned it the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.

‘Spring Green’

	common name ‘Spring Green’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Spring Green’
	height 16-18”

‘Spring Green’ may become your new favorite fresh classic with ivory petals and light, mossy green flames. 

Cream matures to brighter white as the flowers age.

Like ‘China Town,’ ‘Spring Green’ is a Viridiflora type with characteristic central green markings. Blooms emerge in mid to late spring for an award-winning arrangement from this Award of Garden Merit recipient.

‘Firework’

	common name ‘Firework’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Firework’
	height 14-17”

‘Firework’ sparks the landscape with flares of golden petals and painterly red flames. The pointed petals create a structural, stylized flame appeal.

‘Firework’ is one of the strongest red and yellow varieties in the Lily-flowering division. Lily-flowering varieties bloom late in the season with long, pointed, arching petals. 

‘Sorbet’

	common name ‘Sorbet’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Sorbet’
	height 18-36”

‘Sorbet’ is a striking red and white Rembrandt type. The broad petals are mostly white with crimson streaking, fresh like peppermint.

The most expensive tulip in history was also a Rembrandt, Semper Augustus. White with sharp red striping, a virus caused the color variation and captivated expert painters and collectors. It also spurred Holland’s tulip mania. They became known as “broken” tulips due to the color patterns. The virus eventually led to weakened bulbs, and the historic grower is longer in cultivation due to the spread. But, modern varieties like ‘Sorbet’ harken the rich markings.

‘Sorbet’ is a single late selection that begins flowering mid-season. The rewarding performer has Award of Garden Merti status.

‘Exotic Emperor’

	common name ‘Exotic Emperor’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Exotic Emperor’
	height 1-2’

As a Fosteriana, or emperor type, these bear large flowerheads on tall stems. Green and ivory flames highlight the romantic buttercream blossoms.

Fosteriana tulips originate in the mountainous regions of Central Asia. The perennials feature elongated cupped blooms with slightly flared petals. Famed for their size, early bloom, and sturdy stems, the giants are reliable selections.

The white, graceful look of the relative newcomer ‘Exotic Emperor’ softens the prolific reds in the Fosteriana group. These naturalize in optimal sites.

‘Apricot Parrot’

	common name ‘Apricot Parrot’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Apricot Parrot’
	height 20”

‘Apricot Parrot’ makes the list for its fluted, feathery, multicolor plumes. Each petal may contain shades of white, fresh green, lime, yellow, peach, and rose.

Like a delicate silk, this intriguing selection evokes the tropics with its kaleidoscopic pastel blend. The Award of Garden Merit winner holds five-inch flowers and has a delicate fragrance.  

‘Red Dress’

	common name ‘Red Dress’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Red Dress’
	height 14-18”

‘Red Dress’ dances the night away in wine-red ruffles. Curvy and twirling petals are waxy, structural, and crown-shaped.

The burgundy dancer belongs to the Coronet division, a new classification for just such specimens with slightly compressed petals. The compression and gentle folds create a spout or lip and crown form. Coronets are sturdy, hardy types.

The merlot blooms begin in mid-spring. They’re long-lasting on the stem and in the vase.

‘Queen of Night’

	common name ‘Queen of Night’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Queen of Night’
	height 24-30”

For a dark and dramatic look, opt for ‘Queen of Night,’ a late-season bloomer with purple-red, nearly black petals. The deep tones create a striking contrast and add a sense of depth among other colorful plants.

‘Queen of Night’ is beautiful against pale pinks, yellows, whites, and apricots, both in tulips and other spring-flowering bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths. It also complements vibrant pigments.

‘Queen of Night’ is a single late tulip. Its satiny petals form perfect cups on tall stems. Look for ‘Black Hero’ for a double sport of ‘Queen.’

‘Renown Unique’

	common name ‘Renown Unique’
	botanical name Tulipa ‘Renown Unique’
	height 18”

This scrumptious tulip masquerades as a peony. The double late, rounded flowers begin in the loveliest shades of blush pink and delicate rose and ripen to watermelon. The outer petals have light brushstrokes of mossy green.

On tall stems, ‘Renown Unique’ is a sought-after cut flower. It’s gaining popularity in the landscape and bouquets for its luxurious, ample blooms and refreshing palette.