Tulip Bulbs

How to choose the best tulip bulbs

Tulips are iconic spring bulbs with brightly-coloured goblet shaped blooms. Native to central Asia, they arrived with a bang in Europe back in the 16th century and have been popular ever since. There are now more varieties available than ever before, with recent innovations like the multi-stemmed tulip 'Club Series' and black-flowered varieties really pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in breeding. Read answers to our FAQs below to help you choose the right variety for your garden.

When do tulip bulbs flower?

Tulip bulbs flower in spring. Most varieties, like the scented double-petaled tulip ‘Angelique’, are in their prime between April and May. Some early bloomers flower in March. For bright yellow blooms in March and April plant the delicate tulipa sylvestris in beds or in grass where it naturalises very well.

Which tulip bulb has the largest flower?

Our Tulip 'Doubles Collection' is a great place to find stunning examples of large, double-petalled tulip varieties. Including the enormous Tulip ‘Callahan’, this collection offers a mix of ruffled petals and bold copper and purple colours. The largest flowers reach about 15cm across, and are pleasantly reminiscent of peony blooms. Large-flowered tulips are typically late flowering, extending the tulip season well into May.

Best tulips for a windy garden

It’s still possible to enjoy tulips in a windy garden, but you’ll need to choose single-petalled varieties with shorter stems. Looking for tulips that are able to withstand wind and rain? Try ‘Fur Elise’ – this hard-working choice for exposed sites has compact pink and white flowers on stems that reach just 25cm tall. Tulip 'Red Riding Hood' is another compact stunner with intriguing patterned leaves and bold red blooms. Growing to just 15cm tall it’s a great option for the front of borders and containers.