Tulip, species

If you want long-lived tulips, pick the species types. These include wild varieties and selections developed from those species. Most are smaller in stature and bloom size than hybrid tulips. Because they are variants of wildflowers, species tulips are usually long-lived, hardy, and withstand stormy spring weather conditions. Many multiply and spread from year to year.

Species tulips are especially suited for growing in rock gardens or tucked into beds and borders. Many open only in sunny conditions, keeping their blooms closed on cloudy days or in the evening.

Pictured above: Batalinii tulip Red Hunter

Light:

Sun, Part Sun

Zones:

3-8

Plant Type:

Bulb

Plant Height:

4-14 inches tall

Plant Width:

To 6 inches wide

Flower Color:

White, Pink/Rose, Blue/Violet/Lavender, Red, Yellow/Gold, Orange, Green, Bicolor, Blue/Blue-Green Leaves

Bloom Time:

Spring

Landscape Uses:

Containers, Beds & Borders

Special Features:

Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fragrant, Cut Flowers, Drought Tolerant, Easy to Grow

Top Varieties

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Fusilier tulip

(Tulipa praestans 'Fusilier') produces a cluster of reddish orange flowers with yellow throats that forms a small bouquet on the plant. This early-blooming cultivar grows to 10 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Henry Hudson tulip

(Tulipa vvedenskyi 'Henry Hudson') is new for 2009. This orange-red variety is an early to midspring bloomer on stems 6-10 inches tall. The blue-green leaves have crimped, wavy edges. It makes a great addition to patio planters or as a focal point in the front of a border. Zones 3-8
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Honky Tonk tulip

(Tulipa clusiana 'Honky Tonk') is sometimes called lady tulip or candlestick tulip. It's a low-growing variety, reaching only 8 inches tall. Its blooms are all yellow on the inside, but blushed with peach on the outer petals. Zones 3-8
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Lady Jane tulip

(Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane') has attractive red-and-white striped petals on blue-gray foliage that combines particularly well with silver foliage plants. It blooms in midspring on stems 810 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Lilac Wonder tulip

(Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder') has small lilac-pink blooms that reveal glowing gold centers as they unfurl in midspring. It grows 6-8 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Lilliput tulip

(Tulipa humilis 'Lilliput') is an early-blooming variety with cardinal-red blooms and a violet base ringed in gold. The 4- to 6-inch tall flower stems often bear 3-4 blooms each. Foliage may be edged in red. It is native to Kurdistan. Zones 3-8
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Peppermint Stick tulip

(Tulipa clusiana 'Peppermint Stick') is aptly named with its candy cane red-and-white striped, elongated blooms. Also known as lady tulip or candlestick tulip, it blooms in early midseason on stems 8-10 inches tall. It is a good naturalizer for rock gardens. Zones 3-8
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Persian Pearl tulip

(Tulipa pulchella 'Persian Pearl') features dark red-violet flowers that open into star shapes around vibrant yellow centers. It blooms in early to midspring and grows 4-6 inches tall. Zones 4-8
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Red Hunter tulip

(Tulipa batalinii 'Red Hunter') is intensely colored with rich tomato-red blooms that rise just above its blue-green foliage. It grows 10 inches tall. The species is native to Uzbekistan. Zones 3-8
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Taco tulip

(Tulipa clusiana 'Taco') offers red and yellow flowers that light up the front of borders in mid-spring. It grows 8 to 10 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Tubergen's Gem tulip

(Tulipa clusiana 'Tubergen's Gem') bears scarlet buds that open to reveal eye-catching golden blooms. The effect is like flares burning in the garden. The plant grows 12 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Tulipa kolpakowskiana

(Tulipa kolpakowskiana) has yellow flower goblets streaked in crimson that appear in clusters of two or more above a crown of narrow, scalloped leaves. It grows 8 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Tulipa linifolia

(Tulipa linifolia) bears satiny red petals that open wide, resembling poppies with their black centers. The leaves have a thin red edge, adding to the beauty. It grows 1 foot tall. Zones 3-8
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Tulipa tarda

(Tulipa tarda) is a wild tulip native to central Asia. It unfolds starry pale yellow flowers with golden centers in midspring. It requires dry summer conditions to ripen and flourish and grows 1 foot tall. Zones 3-8
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Tulipa turkestanica

(Tulipa turkestanica) bears six-petaled white stars with golden-orange centers that open above narrow leaves in early to midspring. This wild tulip grows 12 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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Unicum tulip

(Tulipa praestans 'Unicum') bears scarlet flowers that glow like cheery valentines above neat clusters of white-margined foliage. It grows 1 foot tall. Zones 3-8
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Violacea tulip

(Tulipa humilis 'Violacea') is a naturally occurring color variant of the species from Kurdistan. It is also know as the crocus tulip for its resemblance to that popular spring flower. Violacea has magenta blooms with a black base inside. Red-edged foliage lies nearly flat on the ground, and flower stalks rise 4-6 inches tall. Zones 3-8
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