Tulip types explained: find the right tulip

How tulips are grouped

All tulip varieties are registered in the Netherlands and divided into 15 official groups. You don't need to know them all — the most important ones for the garden are described below. The groups tell you about flower shape, flowering time and height.

The timings are for an ordinary Danish garden. A warm spring moves everything forward a week or two.

Single and double early tulips

The first big tulips in April. Short and compact with strong stems that stand up to spring weather. The doubles have full, almost rose-like flowers.

• Flowers: early to mid April
• Height: 25–40 cm
• Best for: pots, window boxes and the front of the border

Darwin hybrids

Big, classic tulip flowers on tall, strong stems. Darwin hybrids are a cross between Darwin tulips and the wild Tulipa fosteriana — giving them both size and toughness.

• Flowers: late April to early May
• Height: 50–65 cm
• Best for: borders, cutting and tulips that come back

Triumph tulips

The largest group, with hundreds of varieties in every colour. Classic cup shape on medium-tall, sturdy stems — a safe choice if you're unsure.

• Flowers: mid April to early May
• Height: 35–55 cm
• Best for: borders, pots and cutting

Single late tulips

The last single tulips, often the tallest. This is where you find classics like the almost black ‘Queen of Night’.

• Flowers: May
• Height: 60–75 cm
• Best for: cutting and the back of the border

Lily-flowered tulips

Slender flowers with pointed petals that arch outwards like a lily. Elegant and light — and lovely in a vase.

• Flowers: May
• Height: 50–60 cm
• Best for: cutting and modern, airy borders

Fringed tulips

The petals end in fine, crystal-like fringes that catch the light. Available as both single and double flowers.

• Flowers: late April to May
• Height: 40–60 cm
• Best for: eye-catchers in border and vase

Parrot tulips

Wild, ruffled and twisted petals — often with flames or green stripes. The flowers are large and heavy, so plant them in shelter.

• Flowers: May
• Height: 40–60 cm
• Best for: cutting and as an eye-catcher. Less good at coming back

Double late tulips (peony tulips)

Full flowers that look like peonies and last a long time. The heavy heads do best in a sheltered spot.

• Flowers: May to early June
• Height: 40–60 cm
• Best for: sheltered pots, cutting and romantic borders

Species tulips

Wild tulips and their close relatives, including the Kaufmanniana, Fosteriana and Greigii groups. The flowers are smaller and often star-shaped, opening wide in the sun.

• Flowers: March–April (a few in May)
• Height: 10–40 cm
• Best for: rock gardens, lawns, the front of the border — and tulips that spread year by year

Quick overview

How to combine the types

Choose 3–4 types with different flowering times and plant them in the same border — or in layers in one pot. One wave of flowers then runs into the next, from March to June.

• March–April: species tulips at the front
• April: early tulips
• Late April–May: Darwin hybrids in the middle
• May: late, fringed or double tulips at the back