These popular spring bloomers are famous for coming in just about every color of the rainbow. You’ll find everything from solid petals to wild, multi-colored patterns. Just keep in mind that not every tulip variety carries every single color—each type has its own signature palette.
Tulip Color Variations
When it comes to tulips, there’s (almost) no color off-limits. We’re talking crisp whites, soft pinks, bold reds, vibrant oranges, sunny yellows, creamy ivories, and even deep, moody “blacks.” If you’re looking for a peaceful vibe in your garden beds, try planting “tone-on-tone” combinations for a harmonious look. If you want something that pops, go for high-contrast pairings. And for the truly bold? Mix a whole bunch of colors together! Here are a few ways to play with color:
- Harmonious Pairs: Try red and pink, yellow and orange, or white and cream.
- High Contrast: Go for black and white, yellow and blue, purple and orange, or red and green.
- The Power of Three: Try classic trios like blue-red-yellow, white-red-yellow, or a soft salmon-cream-light yellow mix.
At the end of the day, there are no rules—it’s all about what makes you happy when you look at your garden!
Tulip Varieties and Their Colors
Tulips belong to the lily family, with about 150 species divided into 15 main groups, stretching from Europe all the way across Asia. On top of that, there are countless hybrids bred specifically for parks, home gardens, and the floral industry.
Popular Varieties and Their Signature Hues
Most of the tulips you see at the garden center or the florist fall into a few well-loved categories:
- Darwin Hybrids: These are a cross between Darwin and Fosteriana tulips. They stand tall with massive blooms in a huge range of colors, including red, bicolor red-and-yellow, orange, white, purple, pink, and salmon.
- Single Tulips: Your classic florist staple, available in basically every color imaginable.
- Fringed (Crispa) Tulips: These have beautiful “frayed” edges. They come in many bright colors and often feature white fringes—a purple bloom with a white fringe is a real showstopper!
- Double Tulips: These look almost like roses and come in every color of the palette.
- Lily-Flowered Tulips: Known for their elegant, pointed petals, you can find these in bold, saturated colors, soft pastels, and bicolors.
- Parrot Tulips: These are the “wild child” of the tulip world. They have large, ruffled, and fringed petals that are often streaked, flamed, or spotted with different colors.
- Viridiflora Tulips: These unique flowers feature green streaks on their petals, usually edged with yellow or white.
- Rembrandt Tulips: Famous for their “broken” color patterns, these usually come in shades of purple, pink, red, or bronze with striking stripes, spots, or “feathered” markings.
- Peony Tulips: As the name suggests, these look just like peonies. They usually come in delicate shades ranging from red and pink to white and yellow, often in bicolor mixes.
- Greigii Tulips: These typically feature purple to scarlet-red blooms with a distinct black base and a yellow border.
