Tulips classes
Tulips vary tremendously in flower and plant size, bloom period, shape, and color. By planting early, mid-season, and late blooming varieties, tulips may be enjoyed for several weeks in the spring.
The following tulip classifications are based on time of bloom and form.
Early floweringSingle early tulips are among the earliest tulips to bloom, although they usually flower after the Fosteriana and Kaufmanniana Tulips, but before the Single Late and most other varieties of Tulip. The flowers, available in a wide range of colors, are produced on strong, 8-20" (20-50 cm) long stems. The flowers of several varieties have a sweet fragrance. Single early tulips are excellent for rock gardens, beds, and forcing.
Some cultivars: Beauty Queen (apricot), Bellona (yellow), Bestseller (reddish-orange), Brilliant Star (red), Christmas Dream (pink), Christmas Marvel (cherry), Couleur Cardinal (dark red), Diamond (white and red), Diana (white), Flair (red with yellow edges), General de Wet (orange), Keizerskroon (red with yellow edges), Merry Christmas (red), Purple Prince (purple), Sunray (yellow), Van der Neer (mauve-purple), White Cascade (white)
DOuble early tulips produce semi-double to double, peony-like flowers. The flowers, measuring up to 4" (10 cm) in diameter, are borne on strong, short stems 8-16" (20-40 cm) in height. The color range of double early tulips is smaller than for most other tulip classes.
Some cultivars: Carlton (red), Bonanza (deep orange and yellow), Monte Carlo (yellow), Montreux (peach), Mr. van der Hoef (yellow), Peach Blossom (pink), Orange Nassau (reddish orange), Schoonord (white), Sven Dahlman (cherry pink)
Greigii tulips are noted for their brightly-colored flowers and purple striped or mottled foliage. Plant height varies from 6-16" (15-40 cm). Because of their short stature, Greigii tulips are excellent choices for borders or rock gardens. They also perennialize well.
Some cultivars: Cape Cod (yellow and red), Chopin (cream and crimson), Dreamboat (pink and yellow), Für Elise (cream), Oratorio (magenta pink), Pinocchio (red and white), Red Riding Hood (red with a black base), Sweet Lady (peach with bronze green base), Tsar Peter/Czar Peter (red and white), Turkish Delight (ivory and dark red-brown)
Kaufmanniana tulips are long-lived perennial tulips. In sunlight, the flowers open fully. The open flowers resemble a star or waterlily. Flower colors include white, yellow, pink, and intermediary colors. The foliage is bluish green or chocolate brown striped. Kaufmanniana tulips are small plants. Average plant height is 4-12" (10-30 cm). Their compact size makes them good choices for border edges and rock gardens.
Some cultivar: Concerto (cream), Fashion (orange-red), Gaiety (rose violet and white), Giuseppe Verdi (red and creamy yellow), Heart's Delight (red and pink), Johann Strauss (red and pale yellow), Scarlet Baby (red), Shakespeare (red and orange), Showwinner (red), Stresa (red and yellow), Sweet Lady (cream base and red), Tarafa (red and white)
Fosteriana tulips produce some of the largest flowers of the genus. These cultivars grow 10-20" (25-50 cm) in heght. They also perennialize well. 'Red Emperor' is a widely grown variety in this class. Fosteriana tulips are sometimes referred to as emperor tulips.
Some cultivars: Candela (lemon yellow), Concerto (white), Golden Emperor (golden yellow),Juan (orange with yellow base), Orange Emperor (orange with yellow base), Pink Emperor/Solva (rose pink), Princeps (red with bronze green base), Red Emperor/Madame Lefeber (red), Sweetheart (lemon yellow with white edges), White Emperor/Purissima (white), Yellow Purissima (golden yellow), Zombie (red and cream)
Species include wild species, horticultural varieties, and hybrids. Most are early blooming, short-statured plants. Species tulips are available in a wide array of colors. They perennialize well and are excellent plants for rock and heirloom gardens.
Mid-season floweringDarwin Hybrid Tulips are highly prized for their large, brilliant flowers. Flowers are available in shades of red, pink, orange, and yellow. Blooms are borne on strong stems which are 12-34" (30-86 cm) tall. Darwin hybrid tulips often bloom well for several years, making them one of the better perennial tulips.
Some cultivars: Ad Rem (red/orange), Apeldoorn (red), Big Chief (raspberry with yellow base), Burning Heart (cream with red), Cream Jewel (creamy white), Daydream (yellow with apricot orange edges), Elizabeth Arden (dark pink), Francoise (white), Golden Apeldoorn (yellow), Golden Parade (yellow), Holland's Glory (scarlet), Ivory Floradale (ivory white, especially tall), Kingsblood (red), Menton (apricot with orange edges), Ollioules (dark pink with light rose edges), Olympic Flame (yellow with red flames), Orange Bowl (orange and yellow), Oranjezon (orange), Oxford (red), Parade (red), Pink Impression (rosy-pink), President Kennedy (sherbet orange and red), Queen of the Night (black), Sorbet (white and pink)
Triumph tulips produce cup-shaped flowers on strong, medium-length stems. Average plant height is 16-22" (40-56 cm). This is the largest class of tulips and offers the widest range of flower colors. Triumph tulips are excellent for forcing.
Some cultivars: Annie Schilder (deep pink and orange), Apricot Beauty (apricot), Astarte (red with white edges), Attila (violet purple), Barcelona (fuschia purple), Bastogne (blood red), Beauty Queen (apricot), Bellona (yellow), Bing Crosby (scarlet red), Calgary (white), Don Quichotte (dark pink), Gavotta (yellow and burgundy), Helmar (yellow with red streaks), Hibernia (white), Ice Follies (white and red), Jimmy (orange), Makassar (yellow), Meissner Porzellan (white with pink edges), Negrita (dark purple), Oscar (scarlet red), Page Polka (cream with pink edges), Peer Gynt (fuschia pink), Purple Star (dark red), Salmon Jewel (pink and purple), Shirley (white with purple edges), The Mounties (rasberry), White Dream (white)
Parrot tulips have deeply feathered, curled, or twisted petals. Flowers may be single or multi-colored. Many varieties have a green spot at the base of their petals. Parrot tulips are sensitive to poor weather and should be planted in a protected spot. They grow 12-28" (30-70 cm) in height.
Some cultivars: Apricot Parrot (bright apricot-colored, pink striped), Black Parrot (purple-black), Blue Parrot (mauve-blue), Estella Rynveldt (red and creamy white), Fantasy (deep pink), Flaming Parrot (yellow and red), Orange Favourite (orange), Rococo (red and green), Texas Flame (yellow and red), Texas Gold (bright yellow), White Parrot (white)
Late season floweringSingle late tulips incorporates the former Darwin, cottage, and breeder tulips. Along with the Darwin hybrid tulips, they are the some of the tallest tulips. Flowers are borne on stems 9-32" (22-80 cm) tall. Flowers are available in a wide range of colors.
Some cultivars: Avignon (orange-red), Big Smile (yellow), Black Diamond (purple with black edges), Blushing Beauty (cream and fuschia), Dillenburg (orange-red), Dreamland (white and red), Esther (pink with silver edges), Francoise (cream), Greuze (purple), Kingsblood (red), Maureen (white), Mrs. John T. Scheepers (yellow), Sorbet (white and raspberry), Union Jack (white and red).
Double late tulips are often referred to as peony-flowered tulips. The many-petaled flowers are borne on 12-24" (30-60 cm) stems. Plant double late tulips in protected locations as the large flowers can be damaged by rain and strong winds.
Some cultivars: Angelique (pink), Alegretto (red and yellow), Carnaval de Nice (white and crimson), Creme Upstar (yellow and pink), Lilac Perfection (lilac), Maywonder (magenta pink), Miranda (red), Monsella (yellow with red flames), Mount Tacoma (white), Renown Unique (red with white edges), Uncle Tom (dark maroon), Upstar (white base and dark pink top), Wirosa (red and white), Yellow Tacoma (yellow)
Viridiflora tulips produce long-lasting flowers which have prominent green markings on their petals. The unusual flower characteristics make it a novelty item in the garden. Their heght is variable and depends on which class of they mutated from.
Some cultivars: Artist (red with green streaks), Greenland/Groenland (rose with green streaks), Golden Artist (golden yellow with green streaks), Green Wave (purple parrot Tulip with green streaks), Humminbird (lemon yellow with green streaks), Pimpernel (raspberry with green streaks), Spring Green (creamy white with green streaks), Violet Bird (mauve with green streaks)
Lily-flowering tulips have long pointed petals which arch outward, the flowers somewhat resembling a lily. Flower colors include white, pink, red, yellow, and purple. Several varieties have petals edged or feathered in contrasting colors. Plants grow to a height 9-32" (23-80 cm).
Some cultivars: Aladdin (red with yellow edges), Ballade (dark pink and white edges), Ballerina (orange), China Pink (deep pink), Elegant Lady (yellow and pink), Mariette (red), Marilyn (white and red), Maytime (violet red with white edges), Mona Lisa (yellow and red), West Point (yellow), White Triumphator (white)
Fringed tulips have flowers with elegant fringed petals. Many varieties are mutants of single late tulips. Also known as "crispa tulips." Their heght is variable and depends on which class of they mutated from.
Some cultivars: Aleppo (orange and yellow), Blue Heron (violet and white) Burgundy Lace (red), Fancy Frills (cream and pink), Fringed Elegance (lemon yellow with bronze base), Hamilton (golden yellow), Red Wing (red, black, yellow), Swan Wings (white)
Rembrandt tulips produce striped or "broken" blooms. The white, yellow, or red petals are striped with red, bronze, or purple. These types were bought for huge sums during the "tulipomania" in Holland in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The unusual markings were actually caused by a virus. Due to the virus, the original Rembrandt tulips are no longer sold. However, there several modern, virus-free Rembrandt tulips available.
Some cultivars: All of the following varieties have Rembrandt colouring, although (in terms of size, form, flowering time, etc. ) they also belong to other classes: Keizerskroon (red and yellow), Prince Carnival (yellow with red flames), Princess Irene (orange with purple streaks), Ice Follies (white with dark red flames), Burning Heart (white with red flames), Olympic Flame (yellow with red flames), Orange Bowl (red with yellow flames), Cordell Hull (white with red flames), La Courtine (yellow with red flames), Sorbet (white with raspberry flames), Union Jack (white with cherry red flames), Mona Lisa (yellow with red streaks)
Multiflowwering tulips produce 3 to 7 blooms per stem. The main stem of multiflowering tulips branches into secondary stems. Each secondary stem produces a flower. The flower on the main stem is slightly larger than those on the secondary stems. Many of the multiflowering cultivars belong to the single late tulip class. These tulips are 14-20" (36-50 cm) tall plants which bloom late in the season. Several varieties are multiflowering Greigii tulips which are 8-12" (20-30 cm) tall and early blooming.
Unless otherwise indicated above, most tulips bloom well for only 1 or 2 years. Fosteriana and Darwin hybrid tulips should bloom for 2, 3, or 4 years. Greigii, Kaufmanniana, and species tulips are the longest-lived tulips and should continue to bloom for several years.