Tulips balance symmetrical perfection with elegance of proportion in a wide range of colours

red lily flowered tulips

Tulip Bulbs

  • Hardy perennial

  • Flowers: March to May

  • Full sun or part shade

  • Plant September to November


other spring bulbs:
Crocus | Daffodils & Narcissi | Hyacinths


Best planted in groups of one variety. Traditional large reds are very robust and will grow in most places, but the finest to my eye at least are the lily-flowered varieties. These have rather taller thinner flowers with a slightly out-turned tip to each petal. Tulips are shorter lived (from year to year) than other spring bulbs, especially the more delicately flowered types.

Plant - In containers, borders or beds, NOT in grass, they can't compete in the way that daffodils can.

Depth - 4-6" of soil above the top of the bulb, less in heavy, more in light soils,

Cultivation - after flowering, remove the seed heads and water once with double strength liquid fertiliser, plenty of it to reach the bulbs and roots. Leave leaves to die down naturally, remove when completely brown. Tulip leaves are less obtrusive than other spring bulb foliage.

Containers - I plant 10-12 bulbs of about a dozen varieties every autumn in 10L or thereabouts pots, one variety per pot. When they flower from April onwards I bring them onto the decking near the house, after flowering they are planted in the borders for subsequent years. They are much bigger and last much longer than a bunch of tulips bought in the spring,


A night at the opera tulip collection

A night at the opera tulip collection

£ 28.95
Antique lace tulip collection

Antique lace tulip collection

£ 29.9
Artist tulip collection

Artist tulip collection

£ 43.9
Baroque tulip collection

Baroque tulip collection

£ 42.9
Berries and cream tulip collection

Berries and cream tulip collection

£ 39.9
Berry smoothie tulip collection

Berry smoothie tulip collection

£ 24.95
Black Forest tulip collection

Black Forest tulip collection

£ 35.95
Blooming Fast Drop In Bulb Planter Tulip and Crocus Kit

Blooming Fast Drop In Bulb Planter Tulip and Crocus Kit

£ 4.99
Blooming Fast Drop In Bulb Planter Tulip and Muscari Kit

Blooming Fast Drop In Bulb Planter Tulip and Muscari Kit

£ 4.99
Brandy snap tulip collection

Brandy snap tulip collection

£ 18.45
Bridal bouquet tulip collection

Bridal bouquet tulip collection

£ 23.95
Bright & breezy tulip collection

Bright & breezy tulip collection

£ 18.95
Bright stars tulip collection

Bright stars tulip collection

£ 36.9
Burnt sugar tulip collection

Burnt sugar tulip collection

£ 18.49
Caramel blush tulip collection

Caramel blush tulip collection

£ 34.9
Champagne flutes tulip collection

Champagne flutes tulip collection

£ 25.9
Chocolate orange tulip collection

Chocolate orange tulip collection

£ 27.9
Citrus burst tulips and pot combination

Citrus burst tulips and pot combination

£ 78.26
Club synaeda tulip collection

Club synaeda tulip collection

£ 20.9
Cool water tulip and pot combination

Cool water tulip and pot combination

£ 83.96
Cool water tulip collection

Cool water tulip collection

£ 43.9
Copper & plum tulip collection

Copper & plum tulip collection

£ 31.95
Copper blush tulip collection

Copper blush tulip collection

£ 21.45
Daffodil & Tulip

Daffodil & Tulip 'Tom Pouce Collection'

£ 11.99
Dark mystery tulip collection

Dark mystery tulip collection

£ 17.95
double late tulip boquet collection

double late tulip boquet collection

£ 89.9
Double tulip collection

Double tulip collection

£ 47.9
Duo of double tulips collection

Duo of double tulips collection

£ 31.9
Early flowering prince tulip collection

Early flowering prince tulip collection

£ 41.9
Ebony and ivory tulip collection

Ebony and ivory tulip collection

£ 19.95
Felicity

Felicity's nursery tulip collection

£ 12.95
Frosted snow tulip collection

Frosted snow tulip collection

£ 16.95
Hot and spicy tulip collection

Hot and spicy tulip collection

£ 39.9
Ivory tulip collection

Ivory tulip collection

£ 43.9
Lime Zinger tulip collection

Lime Zinger tulip collection

£ 43.9
Persian tulip collection

Persian tulip collection

£ 35.9
Sistine chapel tulip collection

Sistine chapel tulip collection

£ 48.9
Tulip

Tulip 'Angelique'

£ 22.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Apricot Beauty'

£ 6.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Avignon'

£ 7.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Barcelona'

£ 24.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Bella Blush'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Berry Sorbet'

£ 11.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Big Giant'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Black Cherry Frost'

£ 16.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Black Satin'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Blue Diamond'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Blueberry Ripple'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Boombastic Red'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Bronze 'Perfection'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Brown Sugar'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Brownie'

£ 8.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Caribbean Parrot'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Carnaval de Nice'

£ 18.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Carr?'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Colour Carnival'

£ 24.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Copper Image'

£ 7.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Cream Cocktail'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Double Flag'

£ 19.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Doubles Collection'

£ 39.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Finola'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Fire Wings'

£ 16.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Flaming Club'

£ 16.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Flaming Parrot'

£ 19.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Fly Away'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Fur Elise'

£ 7.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Golden Apeldoorn'

£ 8.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Greenland'

£ 19.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Gudoshnik Double'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Havran'

£ 7.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Hot Chocolate'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Ice Cream Duo'

£ 24.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Ice Cream Yellow'

£ 19.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Ice Cream'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Ice Stick' (Kaufmanniana Group)

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Invitation'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Jackpot'

£ 18.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Jimmy'

£ 6.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Jonquires'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Le Lavandou®'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Magic Carpet'

£ 11.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Magic Lavender' and 'Mango Charm' Collection

£ 21.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Mai Tai'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Miami Sunset'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Paul Scherer'

£ 7.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Pink Fountain'

£ 22.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Pink Impression'

£ 8.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Purple Flag'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Purple Passion Blend'

£ 11.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Queen of the Night'

£ 11.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Queensday'

£ 24.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Queensday' and 'White Valley' Collection

£ 23.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Rasta Parrot'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Red Impression'

£ 19.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Red Riding Hood'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Ronaldo'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Royal Palace Doubles' Collection

£ 16.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Secret Perfume'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Shirley'

£ 24.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Slawa'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Snowstar'

£ 14.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Spring Green'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Suncatcher'

£ 19.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Sunset Shades'

£ 9.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Tom Pouce'

£ 8.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Whispering Dream'

£ 12.99
Tulip

Tulip 'White Dream'

£ 13.99
Tulip

Tulip 'White Prince'

£ 8.99
Tulip

Tulip 'White Valley'

£ 16.99
Tulip

Tulip 'World Friendship'

£ 7.99
Tulip

Tulip 'Yellow Flight'

£ 14.99
Tulip Apricot Foxx

Tulip Apricot Foxx

£ 9.99
Tulip Black Hero and Allium Silver Spring

Tulip Black Hero and Allium Silver Spring

£ 14.95
Tulip Carnaval de Nice

Tulip Carnaval de Nice

£ 6.49
Tulip Double Pink

Tulip Double Pink

£ 4.99
Tulip Double Red

Tulip Double Red

£ 6.49
Tulip Estella Rijnveld

Tulip Estella Rijnveld

£ 6.49
Tulip Flaming Flag

Tulip Flaming Flag

£ 6.49
Tulip Greenstar and Doll

Tulip Greenstar and Doll's Minuet collection

£ 25.5
Tulip Holland Chic

Tulip Holland Chic

£ 4.99
Tulip Ice Cream

Tulip Ice Cream

£ 9.99
Tulip Queen of the Night

Tulip Queen of the Night

£ 6.49
Tulip Red Riding Hood

Tulip Red Riding Hood

£ 9.99
Tulip sylvestris

Tulip sylvestris

£ 9.99
Tulip Triumph White

Tulip Triumph White

£ 6.49
Tulip Tulipa Blushing Lady

Tulip Tulipa Blushing Lady

£ 4.99
Tulip Tulipa Double Purple

Tulip Tulipa Double Purple

£ 6.49
Tulip Tulipa Gavota

Tulip Tulipa Gavota

£ 6.49
Tulip Tulipa Happy Generation

Tulip Tulipa Happy Generation

£ 6.49
Tulip Tulipa Triumph Pink & White Bicolour

Tulip Tulipa Triumph Pink & White Bicolour

£ 6.49
Tulip Tulipa Triumph Red

Tulip Tulipa Triumph Red

£ 9.99
Tulip Tulipa Triumph Yellow

Tulip Tulipa Triumph Yellow

£ 6.49
Tulip Tulipa viridiflora Spring Green

Tulip Tulipa viridiflora Spring Green

£ 9.99
Tulip Washington

Tulip Washington

£ 6.49
Tulipa ?le de France

Tulipa ?le de France

£ 7.99
Tulipa acuminata

Tulipa acuminata

£ 9.99
Tulipa Aladdin

Tulipa Aladdin

£ 7.99
Tulipa Alison Bradley

Tulipa Alison Bradley

£ 7.99
Tulipa Amazing Parrot

Tulipa Amazing Parrot

£ 8.49
Tulipa Andr? Rieu

Tulipa Andr? Rieu

£ 7.99
Tulipa Ang?lique

Tulipa Ang?lique

£ 8.99
Tulipa Annie Schilder

Tulipa Annie Schilder

£ 6.99
Tulipa Antoinette (PBR)

Tulipa Antoinette (PBR)

£ 6.99
Tulipa Antraciet

Tulipa Antraciet

£ 6.49
Tulipa Apeldoorn

Tulipa Apeldoorn

£ 6.99
Tulipa Apricot Beauty

Tulipa Apricot Beauty

£ 5.99
Tulipa Apricot Foxx

Tulipa Apricot Foxx

£ 7.99
Tulipa Apricot Impression (PBR)

Tulipa Apricot Impression (PBR)

£ 6.99
Tulipa Arabian Beauty

Tulipa Arabian Beauty

£ 4.99
Tulipa Asahi

Tulipa Asahi

£ 6.99
Tulipa Atlantis

Tulipa Atlantis

£ 7.99
Tulipa Attila

Tulipa Attila

£ 6.99
Tulipa Avignon

Tulipa Avignon

£ 6.99
Tulipa Backpacker

Tulipa Backpacker

£ 6.99
Tulipa Ballerina

Tulipa Ballerina

£ 7.99
Tulipa Barcelona

Tulipa Barcelona

£ 6.99
Tulipa Black Hero

Tulipa Black Hero

£ 8.99
Tulipa Black Parrot

Tulipa Black Parrot

£ 3.99
Tulipa Blue Beauty

Tulipa Blue Beauty

£ 6.99
Tulipa Blue Diamond

Tulipa Blue Diamond

£ 6.99
Tulipa Blue Heron

Tulipa Blue Heron

£ 7.99
Tulipa Blue Spectacle

Tulipa Blue Spectacle

£ 9.99
Tulipa Brown Sugar

Tulipa Brown Sugar

£ 7.49
Tulipa Burgundy

Tulipa Burgundy

£ 6.99
Tulipa Burgundy Lace

Tulipa Burgundy Lace

£ 6.99
Tulipa Caf? Noir

Tulipa Caf? Noir

£ 5.99
Tulipa Calgary

Tulipa Calgary

£ 6.99
Tulipa Candy Club

Tulipa Candy Club

£ 6.99
Tulipa Candy Prince (PBR)

Tulipa Candy Prince (PBR)

£ 6.99
Tulipa Carnaval de Rio

Tulipa Carnaval de Rio

£ 6.99
Tulipa Carola

Tulipa Carola

£ 7.99
Tulipa Catherina

Tulipa Catherina

£ 7.99
Tulipa Charming Beauty

Tulipa Charming Beauty

£ 6.99
Tulipa China Pink

Tulipa China Pink

£ 6.99
Tulipa China Town

Tulipa China Town

£ 7.49
Tulipa Copper Image

Tulipa Copper Image

£ 7.99
Tulipa Couleur Cardinal

Tulipa Couleur Cardinal

£ 7.99
Tulipa Cr?me Upstar

Tulipa Cr?me Upstar

£ 8.99
Tulipa Cummins

Tulipa Cummins

£ 10.99
Tulipa Danceline

Tulipa Danceline

£ 5.99
Tulipa Daytona

Tulipa Daytona

£ 5.99
Tulipa Design Impression

Tulipa Design Impression

£ 6.99
Tulipa Doll

Tulipa Doll's Minuet

£ 6.49
Tulipa Don Quichotte

Tulipa Don Quichotte

£ 5.99
Tulipa Dordogne

Tulipa Dordogne

£ 6.99
Tulipa Early Glory

Tulipa Early Glory

£ 6.99
Tulipa Elegant Lady

Tulipa Elegant Lady

£ 6.99
Tulipa Esprit

Tulipa Esprit

£ 6.99
Tulipa Evergreen

Tulipa Evergreen

£ 6.99
Tulipa Exotic Emperor

Tulipa Exotic Emperor

£ 5.99
Tulipa Finola

Tulipa Finola

£ 7.99
Tulipa Flaming Flag

Tulipa Flaming Flag

£ 5.99
Tulipa Flaming Springgreen

Tulipa Flaming Springgreen

£ 8.99
Tulipa Florosa

Tulipa Florosa

£ 5.99
Tulipa Fontainebleau

Tulipa Fontainebleau

£ 6.99
Tulipa Fran?oise

Tulipa Fran?oise

£ 5.29
Tulipa Gavota

Tulipa Gavota

£ 6.49
Tulipa Golden Apeldoorn

Tulipa Golden Apeldoorn

£ 6.49
Tulipa Golden Artist

Tulipa Golden Artist

£ 6.99
Tulipa Gorilla

Tulipa Gorilla

£ 5.99
Tulipa Grand Perfection (PBR)

Tulipa Grand Perfection (PBR)

£ 6.99