Gardening Flowers Bulbs 25 of the Best Tulip Bulbs to Plant in Fall for a Spring Garden By Sheryl Geerts Sheryl Geerts Sheryl Geerts is an editor and author who has nearly three decades of writing and editing experience. She enjoys writing about garden, food, and home topics. Her bylines have appeared in Better Homes and Gardens, Allrecipes, Martha Stewart Living, and several other publications. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on October 21, 2022 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Justin Hancock Choosing the best tulip bulbs to plant can be challenging because each one seems more breathtaking than the next. These spring-blooming bulbs come in just about every color of the rainbow and range from the classic flower types to petal-packed peony tulips and frilly parrot types. Pick from these popular tulip varieties for an unforgettable spring show. 01 of 25 Negrita Peter Krumhardt This tulip variety's large deep purple petals look stunning in garden beds or borders, especially when planted with orange- or yellow-flowered spring-blooming plants. 'Negrita' has strong stems that hold up to wind and rain and make it an excellent cut flower. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 16 inches tall Zones: 3-8 02 of 25 Prinses Irene Andy Lyons With uniquely colored blooms and floral fragrance, 'Prinses Irene' never fails to impress. The flowers have orange petals with vibrant purple markings in a classic tulip shape. It's also an ideal spring bulb for forcing into bloom early. Bloom Season: Early to mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 14 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: 'Prinses Irene' Tulip ($14 for 12, White Flower Farm) 03 of 25 Sweetheart Bill Stites This fosteriana tulip variety has large lemon-yellow petals tipped with white. These long-lasting, fragrant flowers combine effortlessly with other bulbs and spring-blooming plants. Here, 'Sweetheart' is shown with 'Mercato' daffodil. You'll want to show off this beauty in a vase. Bloom Season: Early to mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 18 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Sweetheart Tulip Bulbs ($14 for ten, Burpee) 04 of 25 Zurel Justin Hancock The boldly colored triumph hybrid 'Zurel' has large white blooms with deep purple streaks. It has strong, sturdy stems, perfect for creating stunning spring cut flower arrangements. Bloom Season: Mid to late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 20 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Zurel Tulip Bulbs ($8 for 10 bulbs, Hudson Valley Seed Company) 05 of 25 Unicum Peter Krumhardt Perhaps the best tulip bulb for a bold statement in spring, 'Unicum' offers bright red-orange flowers and gorgeous cream-striped foliage. This is one of the best perennial tulips that reliably comes back every year and bears several blooms per stem. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Zones: 3-8 7 Facts Every Tulip Lover Should Know 06 of 25 Menton Peter Krumhardt This single late hybrid variety is one of the latest tulips to bloom, so plan on it appearing in late April and May. 'Menton' bears pink flowers with orange and salmon tones, accented by white stripes. Its large flowers and long stems make it an excellent cut flower. Bloom Season: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall Zones: 3-8 07 of 25 Fusilier Andy Lyons A showstopper each year in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden, 'Fusilier' is a species tulip that produces up to four red-orange blooms on each stem. Plant these low-growing bulbs to add bright spring color to a rock garden, along a path, or at the front of a flower bed. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 1 foot tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Praestans Fusilier ($12 for ten, Dutch Flower Bulbs) 08 of 25 Estella Rijnveld Andy Lyons Frilly and fabulous 'Estella Rijnveld' is a parrot tulip with bold red and white flowers with fringed and twisted petals. The large blooms and long stems make for beautiful cut flowers, but they don't hold up well to wind or rain, so plant this variety in a sheltered location. Bloom Season: Mid to late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 24 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Estella Rijnveld Tulip ($16 for eight, Breck's) 09 of 25 Black Parrot Jay Wilde Add a little smolder to your spring garden with the dark blooms of 'Black Parrot'. Its fantastically fringed and twisted petals make it one of the best tulip bulbs for show-stopping blooms. This parrot tulip resembles the colorful feathers of the tropical bird of the same name. However, their beak-shaped buds are what earned them their moniker. Bloom Season: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 20 inches Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Black Parrot Tulip Bulbs ($30 for 12, The Home Depot) 10 of 25 Montreux Lynn Karlin Kick off spring with 'Montreux', an early-blooming tulip variety that offers double, ivory-yellow flowers. Double hybrid tulips look almost like peonies, adding a soft, romantic-style flair to the garden. Bloom Season: Early to mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 18 inches tall Zones: 3-8 11 of 25 Angelique Peter Krumhardt Perhaps the best tulip bulbs for an elegant feel, 'Angelique' bears fragrant, double pink flowers that look like peonies. This sturdy beauty holds up well as a cut flower. However, double tulips' large, heavy blooms can be damaged by rains and strong winds, so plant them in a sheltered location or grow them in a container you can easily protect during storms. Bloom Season: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 18 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Angelique Tulips Bulbs ($30 for 12, The Home Depot) 12 of 25 Pink Impression Bill Stites An all-around excellent Darwin hybrid tulip variety, 'Pink Impression' bears vibrant pink flowers in May. It's a spring favorite in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Garden because it never fails to impress. It's also one of the most popular varieties to grow for cut flowers thanks to its tall, strong stems and large blooms. With proper bulb care, these beauties will return year after year. Bloom Season: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 22 inches tall Zones: 3-8 13 of 25 Burning Heart Justin Hancock No wonder striped tulips were among the most valuable during Holland's tulip mania in the 1600s. 'Burning Heart' is an exceptional selection with creamy blooms streaked with bold red. This Darwin hybrid tulip is one of the tallest tulips with flowers that can reach 6 inches in diameter when fully open. It's also one of the best perennial tulips, which means it will likely come back and flower again for several years after planting. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 22 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Peony Tulips Are The Crossover Your Garden Needs—Here's How to Grow 14 of 25 Big Smile Peter Krumhardt After growing 'Big Smile', you'll understand why it earned its name. The big, golden-yellow flowers are perfect for cutting and the best tulip bulb to plant for a cheery way to close the season. This single late hybrid has long stems and looks most stunning when planted in groups or with other spring-blooming bulbs. Bloom Season: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 26 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Big Smile Tulip ($13 for 12, Breck's) 15 of 25 Tulipa tarda Bryan McCay One of the best tulips for naturalizing, this wild species offers thin leaves and golden flowers with white-tipped petals. Because Tulipa tarda is a species tulip, it tends to reliably come back every year and blooms longer than most hybrid types. Bloom Season: Early spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and moist, well-drained soil Size: To 4 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Tulipa tarda ($9, K. van Bourgondien) 16 of 25 Tubergen's Gem Peter Krumhardt Sometimes called the candlestick tulip, 'Tubergen's Gem' has rich red outer petals and sunny yellow inner petals, resembling a candle flame. This low-growing species tulip is one of the best choices for naturalizing, meaning it will slowly spread around the area where you plant it. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 10 inches tall Zones: 2-10 Mix Houseplants and Spring Bulbs in an Easy-to-Make Dish Garden 17 of 25 Tulipa linifolia Peter Krumhardt This short but sweet species tulip is easy to fall in love with. Tulipa linifolia produces bright red blooms early in the season. When its petals open, they reveal a dark, purple-black splotch at the base of the flower. Also known as flax-leaved tulip, this low-growing wild type naturalizes well, so plant it once and enjoy it for many years to come. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 6 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Linifolia ($7 for ten, Dutch Flower Bulbs) 18 of 25 Lilac Wonder Peter Krumhardt A dainty yet distinctive pink tulip variety, 'Lilac Wonder' flowers open to reveal a bright yellow blotch at the base. It's a reliable perennial variety that often produces more flowers yearly. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 6 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Lilac Wonder Tulip ($10, Breck's) 19 of 25 Tulipa kolpakowskiana Roy Inman An heirloom species tulip, Tulipa kolpakowskiana offers small, bright yellow flowers with red streaks on the outer petals. Bonus: It often produces more than one bloom per stem. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 8 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Kolpakowskiana ($8 for ten, Dutch Flower Bulbs) 20 of 25 Tulipa turkestanica Peter Krumhardt This fragrant species tulip bears up to 12 white blooms with golden centers on each stem. Tulipa turkestanica reliably returns each year where the bulbs are hardy and grows well under deciduous trees and shrubs. Bloom Season: Early spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 10 inches tall Zones: 4-8 Buy It: Tulipa turkestanica ($11 for ten, DutchGrown) 21 of 25 Persian Pearl Peter Krumhardt Count on 'Persian Pearl' to return every year. This colorful little beauty offers magenta-rose blooms with a bright yellow center that's revealed on warm, sunny days. It's also a deer-resistant plant. Bloom Season: Early spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 4 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Persian Pearl Tulip Bulbs ($22 for 25, The Home Depot) 22 of 25 Queen of Night Jay Wilde Appearing in late spring, 'Queen of Night' offers some of the darkest flowers found in a tulip. Its velvety, deep purple flowers make it one of the best tulip bulbs to plant for contrast along a colorful flower border or in a fresh flower arrangement. Bloom Season: Late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 2 feet tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Queen of Night Tulip Bulbs ($27 for 12, The Home Depot) 23 of 25 Burgundy Lace Peter Krumhardt Deep wine-red blooms and fringed petals give 'Burgundy Lace' a delicate beauty all its own. The rich color stands out among most other spring-blooming plants, and these tall tulips have very strong stems that hold up well in rain or wind. Bloom Season: Mid to late spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 26 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Burgundy Lace Fringed Tulips ($7 for 12, Holland Bulb Farms) 24 of 25 Fancy Frills Jay Wilde This pink-flowered tulip variety lives up to its name with its lacy-looking petal edges. Plant these bulbs with blue grape hyacinths for a stunning color combination. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 16 inches tall Zones: 3-9 Buy It: Fancy Frills Fringed Tulip ($8 for 12, Holland Bulb Farms) 25 of 25 Red Riding Hood Peter Krumhardt This sturdy greigii-type hybrid tulip may be on the short side, but it's impossible to miss its bright red blooms. The mottled purple foliage provides the perfect foil for the vibrantly hued petals and echoes the dark centers. Bloom Season: Mid spring Growing Conditions: Full sun and well-drained soil Size: To 10 inches tall Zones: 3-8 Buy It: Red Riding Hood Tulip ($15 for ten, Breck's) Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit