There is a reason Tulips have been beloved by gardeners for centuries. They are simply one of the most rewarding bulbs you can plant. Drop a bulb into the ground in fall, forget about it through the cold months, and be greeted in spring with one of the most cheerful, uplifting sights the garden has to offer. Tulips are available in an astounding range of colors, forms, and bloom times, from the single-flowered types that push up in early spring to the ruffled and fringed varieties that close out the season in dramatic fashion. They thrive in zones 3–8, grow to heights of 4–24 inches depending on the variety, and are simply not to be missed.
A Tulip for Every Garden
The beauty of Tulips is that there truly is a variety for everyone. Love a classic, clean-lined garden? Darwin Hybrid Tulips will give you tall, strong stems and bold, cup-shaped blooms in crisp, saturated colors. Coral Pride is a glowing example, with warm coral tones that look stunning in the border and the vase. Prefer something more romantic and layered? Double Tulips, sometimes called Peony-flowered Tulips, offer full, multi-petaled blooms that look extraordinary massed in a border. La Belle Epoque and Copper Image are two of our favorites in this style, soft, layered, and achingly beautiful.
Tulips make excellent companions for Daffodils and Hyacinth in a layered spring bulb planting. Plan for a succession of bloom by choosing early, mid, and late-season varieties, and you will have color in the garden from early spring all the way through May. We also love planting Tulips in spots where summer perennials will later emerge to fill in the space. Plant them below Hostas or Hardy Geraniums, and by the time the Tulip foliage has faded the surrounding plants will have grown in to conceal it beautifully.
Tulips are outstanding in containers as well. Layer bulbs at different depths in a deep pot in fall, with the largest bulbs at the bottom and smaller ones above, for a succession of blooms from a single container. This “lasagna planting” method is one of our favorite tricks for a spectacular patio or entryway display.
Planting and Care
Watch our step-by-step planting tutorial below, then follow along with the written guide for all the details.
Tulips need a location with partial to full sun and, most importantly, good drainage. They absolutely will not tolerate wet feet over winter, which is the most common cause of bulb failure. If your soil is heavy or tends to hold moisture, raised beds or containers are an excellent solution.
Plant Tulip bulbs in fall, after the soil has cooled but before it freezes, typically October through early December depending on your climate. Dig a hole 6 inches deep and mix a teaspoon of Heirloom™ Bone Meal into the soil at the bottom of the hole. Place bulbs 2–3 inches apart with the pointed end facing upward, cover with soil, and water once thoroughly after planting. After that initial watering, there is no need to water again until spring, as the bulbs are dormant and the winter rains will handle the rest.
In spring, as foliage emerges, a light application of Founders Fish Fertilizer will support strong stem development and bloom. Deadhead spent flowers promptly after blooming to prevent the plant from putting energy into seed production, but leave the foliage in place until it yellows and dies back on its own, usually 6 weeks after blooming. This allows the bulb to store enough energy for next year.
Three of our favorites to plant this season are: La Belle Epoque, a beloved double Tulip in warm copper-gold that shifts to caramel and silver-pink as it matures; Copper Image, with luminous peachy-copper petals that shimmer in the spring light; and Coral Pride, a bold and glowing coral that stands out beautifully in the border and the vase.