17 Showstopping Tulip Varieties to Plant Now
Fall is perfect for planting tulips, and we have some major showstoppers to share with you. These are not your average varieties. Check out these amazing tulips with gardening expert Melissa Strauss.
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Tulips enjoy immense popularity in many parts of the world and have a long history of being among the most coveted plants worldwide. Tulip Mania, a period during the 1630s in the Netherlands, saw certain bulbs rival the price of a home. During this time, some showstopping varieties sold many times over on a stock market of sorts.
While most bulbs are much more affordable and accessible today, they remain among the most purchased. This applies to bulbs as well as cut flowers. They comfortably sit in the top five of the most popular contests for cut flowers in the United States.
Not only are these blooms beautiful, but they are also rich in symbolism, representing love and romance in Western Cultures. They are perennials in Zones 3-8; you can grow them annually in warmer climates. I dug up some incredibly beautiful and eye-catching varieties to share with you. Check out these showstopping tulips that you can plant in your garden!
‘Color Fusion’
common name ‘Color Fusion’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Color Fusion’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 16”-18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Color Fusion’ is a fringed variety with lovely fringed edges. It’s a classic, single-petal form and certainly not the largest of tulips. However, it has very splashy, flashy colors. A fascinating characteristic of this variety is the wide range of colors they can display.
On the dark end of the spectrum, ‘Color Fusion’ can show off reds, purples, and pinks. The center of the petals is lighter, in shades of yellow, white, or orange. They are a wonderful mix of classic and fancy in one flower.
‘Copper Image’
common name ‘Copper Image’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Copper Image’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
There’s nothing common about this double late-blooming beauty. ‘Copper Image’ is peony form, meaning more than double a standard tulip’s petals. The large blooms resemble peonies!
‘Copper Image’ blooms are shades of copper and apricot. These make an excellent addition to the cutting garden and look gorgeous in cut arrangements. Cut them while in the bud for the longest vase life.
‘Brisbane’
common name ‘Brisbane’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Brisbane’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Brisbane’ has extra personality. This flamboyant variety is both double-petaled and fringed. Shades of red and salmon lie toward the center of the blooms, with yellow to apricot fringe around the edges.
On top of their eye-catching form, ‘Brisbane’ tulips have a pleasingly strong fragrance. They add an exotic touch to flower beds and cut flower arrangements.
‘Double Sugar’
common name ‘Double Sugar’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Double Sugar’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 12”-18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
Have you ever seen a tulip impersonate a rose before? ‘Double Sugar’ does exactly this! With layers and layers of petals, you might not even identify what type of flower this is in a cut arrangement.
‘Double Sugar’ is a double late variety. It has dark pink outer petals that turn lighter as they move toward the center. There are splashes of cream and gold and bits of green. It’s simply beautiful and fragrant, too.
‘Caribbean Parrot’
common name ‘Caribbean Parrot’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Caribbean Parrot’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 14”-16” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
Parrot tulips are some of my favorites. They usually take center stage in the flower bed. Their bright colors and fancy, feathered appearance make them stand out from more common types.
‘Caribbean Parrot’ has buttery yellow petals that twist lightly. The ruffled edges are bright, fiery red. As the petals mature, the yellow fades to cream, and the red turns deep pink.
‘Snow Crystal’
common name ‘Snow Crystal’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Snow Crystal’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 12”-14” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
This fluffy white confection of a tulip looks like a snowball. Piles of creamy white, fringed petals characterize this double late variety. The outer petals have cool streaks of green to match the blue-green foliage.
‘Snow Crystal’ is another variety that more closely resembles a rose or peony with its mass of petals. A very romantic tulip, these are perfection in the cutting garden.
‘Finola’
common name ‘Finola’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Finola’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
It’s hard to resist the double late varieties with their large, impressive, intricate blooms. ‘Finola’ has wonderful qualities that make it a standout in the spring flower bed. A mass planting of these is enchanting and romantic.
‘Finola’ is heavily double-petaled. The blooms are cool, pale pink, with a deeper rose in the center. The petals are smooth-edged, which gives this tulip sweetness and refinement.
‘Black Hero’
common name ‘Black Hero’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Black Hero’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 24” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
Black flowers are always attention grabbers. ‘Black Hero’ isn’t a true black tulip, but it’s close. The deep, rich, velvety maroon of the petals makes a statement among the pastels of springtime.
‘Black Hero’ produces plump, green, and burgundy buds open to double-petaled perfection. When the light shines through these blooms, they positively light up. It’s a double late variety, blooming in late spring.
‘Carnaval de Nice’
common name ‘Carnaval de Nice’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Nice’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 18”-20” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Carnaval de Nice’ looks as good as it smells, and its qualities earned it an Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Splashy blooms are white with streaks of raspberry red. They are striking to say the least.
This is a double-late variety with smooth petals. The large flowers grow atop tall stems, making them wonderful for floral arrangements. Because they are tall, plant them in a sheltered space where strong winds won’t topple them.
‘Green Wave’
common name ‘Green Wave’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Green Wave’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 20”-24” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
I could have filled this list exclusively with parrot tulips with no problem. These truly are the most showstopping varieties. ‘Green Wave’ is one of the most fabulous I’ve seen. The petals, which earn this flower its name, resemble curling feathers.
The flowers are bright pink with waves of green through the center of their curving petals. Cream and yellow accents make them even more colorful and eye-catching. ‘Green Wave’ is taller than average and needs shelter from damaging winds.
‘Rosy Diamond’
common name ‘Rosy Diamond’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Rosy Diamond’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 16” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Rosy Diamond’ is a newer variety of double late tulip. It’s one of the later bloomers, opening around May. It has shorter stems, which makes the plant a bit sturdier. The stems are dark, which adds some extra interest.
This tulip is one of the prettiest colors I’ve seen. The blooms are a vibrant shade of red-violet. The double-petal form makes these flowers great for arrangements. As they age, they take on a silver sheen.
‘Queensland’
common name ‘Queensland’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Queensland’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 16”-18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
This double-petaled, fringe tulip is certain to make a statement in your spring beds. ‘Queensland’ is a gorgeous, mid-season bloomer. The flowers are long-lasting and wonderful for the cutting garden.
‘Queensland’ blooms are a mixture of dark pink and apricot, with blush at the edges. They are relatively tall, so I recommend giving them some shelter from the wind.
‘Grand Perfection’
common name ‘Grand Perfection’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Grand Perfection’PBR | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 16″ | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Grand Perfection’ is a triumph variety. These rose to popularity for their classic form and vivid colors. They have strong stems and are easy to force.
‘Grand Perfection’ is a RHS Award of Garden Merit winner. The blooms are pale, creamy yellow with streaks of deep oxblood. They are wonderful in mass planting, and excellent for cutting.
‘Black Parrot’
common name ‘Black Parrot’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Black Parrot’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 20” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Black Parrot’ is another spectacular parrot-type tulip with sculptural blooms that twist gracefully. They are a stunningly deep shade of garden and nearly black at the edges.
Truly black tulips are difficult to find, but ‘Black Parrot’ comes close. The heavily textured blooms are exquisite and look amazing in floral arrangements.
‘Sarah Raven’
common name ‘Sarah Raven’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Sarah Raven’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 16”-18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
Sarah Raven is unique on my list as a single-petal tulip with thin, pointed petals. It’s one part classic and one part avant-garde. The pointed petals open out and arch backward, giving them a birdlike appearance.
These simple and enchanting blooms are solid burgundy and considered lily-form. The red flowers contrast nicely with their smooth, blue-green foliage.
‘Prinses Irene’
common name ‘Prinses Irene’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Prinses Irene’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 12”-14” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
‘Prinses Irene’ is a classic, compact, single-petal form tulip variety that makes a striking border. This vibrant orange variety deserves a space to shine in the garden.
It’s the color of this tulip that made me select it. They are deep, glowing orange with a red streak from the base to the tip of each rounded petal. Though they are single-petaled, their color and attractive foliage make them a true gem.
‘Affaire’
common name ‘Affaire’ | |
botanical name Tulipa ‘Affaire’ | |
sun requirements Full sun to partial shade | |
height 16”-18” | |
hardiness zones 3-8 |
Last but not least, ‘Affaire’ is another classic, single-petaled tulip with all the class and elegance common to the genus. This is a triumph tulip variety, so it’s easy to force them if you don’t get them in the ground before that first winter freeze date.
‘Affaire’ has pure white petals with beautiful purple edges. Its quiet elegance makes you stop and take notice. This variety is great in the cutting garden or for mass planting.