Types Of Tulip Flowers: Learn About Different Varieties Of Tulip

Water Droplets On Tulip Flowers
tulip varieties
(Image credit: elzeva)

If you’re new to the world of tulips, you’ll be amazed at the diversity and the sheer number of tulip varieties available to gardeners, ranging from tall, stately tulips to petite, dainty tulip varieties and even a few whimsical or odd-looking tulip bulb types. Read on to learn about just a few of the many different kinds of tulips.

Varieties of Tulip

Below are the most common types of tulip flowers grown in gardens:

  • Standard – Traditional, old-fashioned tulips available in many forms and shades, either single or bi-colors. Standard tulips are easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
  • Parrot – Impressive, long-stemmed parrot tulips distinctive for fringed, feathery, ruffled, twisted, or curled petals in a variety of vibrant colors.
  • Fringed – As the name suggests, fringed tulips display a fine fringe that gives the blooms a soft, frilly appearance. Colors include pink, red, violet, yellow, and white, with the fringe often contrasting with the bloom.
  • Rembrandt –Showy, tall Rembrandt tulips with pale colors distinctly variegated or streaked with deep purple or reddish “flames.”
  • Fosteriana – The early blooming fosteriana tulip displays huge blooms measuring up to 8 inches (20.5 cm.) across, with short, sturdy stems that top out at about 10 inches (25.5 cm.).
  • Triumph – A cold-hardy, sturdy-stemmed variety, triumph tulip is available in a wide variety of solid and bi-colors.
  • Darwin hybrids – Tall Darwin hybrid tulips in spectacular colors, mostly in the reddish-orange to red range. Varieties also include pink, white, and yellow.
  • Kaufmanniana – Also known as waterlily, this kaufmanniana tulip is an early bloomer with short stems and large blooms in various colors, most with contrasting centers. Blooms open flat in bright sunlight.
  • Viridiflora – Also known as green tulips, this variety is distinctive for its various colors, all marked with green. For example, yellow tulips with green stripes, creamy white with bluish-green mottling, or pale colors with feathery green markings.
  • Greigii – A midseason bloomer greigii has big, colorful blooms streaked and spotted with maroon or brownish markings.
  • Double – This variety is also known as peony tulip for its short stems and lush, multi-layered blooms.
  • Lily flowering – An elegant, late-spring bloomer with long, pointy petals that arch outward at the tips. Lily flowering is available in a variety of colors including white, magenta, red, pink, and yellow, often with contrasting edges.
  • Single late – Also known as cottage tulip, this is one of the tallest varieties at 2 to 3 feet (61 cm. to 1 m.). The graceful blooms are oval or egg-shaped in pure, vibrant colors, often with contrasting edges.
Mary H. Dyer
Writer

A Credentialed Garden Writer, Mary H. Dyer was with Gardening Know How in the very beginning, publishing articles as early as 2007.