Time to choose beautiful tulips for spring

It may seem jolly strange to be thinking about tulips in high summer, but we need to do this for our spring displays. Ordering tulips from late August onwards means we will have bulbs ready to plant in November. Seeing a garden full of tulips for spring is a fantastic sight to see and a real boon to wellbeing.

November is thought to be the best time to plant the bulbs as the colder conditions reduce the risk of the fungal disease tulip fire.

As a result of this horrible fungal disease, the tulips emerge with brown spots and twisted, distorted leaves, followed by grey fungus, mould and rot. Yuk!

Accordingly, never plant tulip bulbs before November, as this reduces the risk.

However, if you have not ordered bulbs in time for November don’t worry, you can get away with planting them as late as December, or even January.

I order early to ensure the varieties I would like are still in stock.

Choosing tulips and getting your orders in is such an exciting time, full of anticipation for your springtime displays I think.

I chose some bright tulips last year as well as my usual dark and sultry varieties and had a fabulously colourful spring.

Here is the link to my earlier tulip post How wonderful. A tulip in spring where you will see some of my tulip displays. Also, some lovely tulips are featured, planted by my dear friend, the Cosmos Queen.

Choosing new tulips for spring

My first pots were planted with Havran, a favourite dark purple triumph tulip that I absolutely love.

This year, in keeping with my bright and zingy new world, I added some orange to the purple, a combination that works so well together. These ones, in the photograph are Princess Irene, named after a Dutch Princess.

Princess Irene is a beautiful bright orange with a contrasting purple flame which complements the short dark stems and foliage.

I planted some in pots and some in my flower borders, to make sure I had the maximum amount of colour everywhere in my garden.

Additionally, I planted some pots with Slawa, a stunning triumph tulip in an intense purple with dramatic contrasting orange edges. Coupled with Black Hero, a striking double-late variety that produces giant peony shaped flowers. Its deep maroon/mahogany blooms appear almost black. A pot or ten to make me swoon.

Planted in pots next to the bright and zingy Ballerina gave me a fantastic colour boost to add to my displays.

Other combinations I planted were Ronaldo, a deep crimson almost black with pointed petals, and Jimmy, gorgeous fiery orange triumph tulip. A beautiful combination, which I will repeat next Spring in other areas of my garden and pots.

Favourite tulips for spring

Another idea is to plant the tulips you love in borders and then add some more colours as a variety takes your eye.

In the photo above, I have Slawa with Black Hero and have included a few others as well. I couldn’t resist Black Parrot, a deeply coloured velvety black with large, flared heads and intricately feathered edges.

Additionally, some Copper Image, a spectacular large double tulip, with graceful blooms of red and pink petals with a subtle copper hue.

As you can see above, my lovely chickens were so impressed with the colours, they had to get in the flower borders and stare.

They may have joined me in a swoon!

Tulips for a bright display

Besides the dark and sultry brigade, I chose some bright red varieties. A new foray into the bright world of red and I was thrilled with the results.

Tulip Carnaval De Nice is an unusual and attractive tulip that will produce giant peony shaped white blooms with bright red splashes on each petal. Considered as a late spring bloomer, this one extends the tulip season display.

I planted mine with a bright red variety called National Velvet.

Another fantastic red tulip I planted was Rococo. A parrot tulip with deeply cut petals, giving them a fringed look. A velvety red colour, edged in a brighter red and flamed with fine green markings.

I also planted some Estelle Rynveld in a pot. A fantastic parrot tulip with a bright red, white and green pattern on every petal. A real wow of a tulip.

Another beautiful red I planted was Shining Parrot. A silky red with dark purple markings. Looks like I might need to compile a separate post on the red tulips as I have quite a selection now.

Lily flowering tulips for spring

Next, we have the beautiful lily-flowering tulips for spring.

These long-stemmed, slender blooms are tipped with pointed petals that curve slightly backwards. Therefore, the lovely lily-flowering tulips have a similar shape to the lilies that are their namesake.

Lily-flowering Tulips are late spring bloomers and available in a wide selection of colours. The photograph above shows some of my bright and zingy Ballerina. A fabulous bright orange which is also slightly scented.

Other tulips that I planted were some fantastic white ones, named White Triumphator, which worked well to calm some of my displays.

Another favourite for me and a large order last year, came the purple and magenta contingent.

Choosing Purple Doll, Doll’s Minuet and Claudia gave me some stunning purple and magenta blooms. I can highly recommend them for a colourful and unusual display.

Additionally, I chose some more bright and zingy. This time, a variety called Fire wings.  A dazzling red flower with vibrant yellow points at the end of each petal. A wow in flower borders or pots, making for a spectacular fiery appearance.

I planted all my lily-flowered tulips in pots as the slender stems are not very wind resistant. Accordingly, they are best placed somewhere sheltered.

Double tulips

Next, I have chosen some double flowering tulips, also available in a wide range of colours.

The doubles look much like a peony because of their ruffled layers of petals, which give them a fuller look.

My photo above shows Foxtrot, Double You, Finola and Angelique. I was lucky enough to see a beautiful peacock butterfly on the blooms too.

Tulip Angelique is one of the most popular of the doubles. Fabulous large blooms of blush pink petals that deepen as the flower ages, becoming apple blossom pink at the edges.

I also planted a variety called Mount Tacoma. These flowers begin a pinkish colour but open out to a beautiful creamy white. Mount Tacoma flowers in late spring.

My next planting for the borders was Finola. A beautiful new variety that produces pretty pink and white flowers. There are so many varieties of double tulips for spring and I have a wish list for several more.

Another lovely double variety is Showcase. Seen above in a pot and flowering her socks off. A very popular tulip in shades of deep rich purple, fading gently over time.

If you grow tulips to cut for vases, the double varieties seem to last longer. Often, up to two weeks I believe.

However, I don’t have personal experience of this, as I leave mine in the garden. I also bring pots nearer the house so I can still see the colourful displays from indoors. Fantastic colour for a balcony too.

Ordering tulip bulbs

I order tulips from Sarah Raven and J Parkers and have provided links below.

Both have fantastic collections as well as separate varieties in all the different forms. The bulbs I have ordered have been a good size and quality and all have grown well and provided fantastic colour in my garden and pots.

I have been looking at Sarah Raven’s tulips for spring collections and have chosen a few beauties.

The Saturn tulip mix which has Continental, palmyra and Amberglow. A new collection to make me swoon.

I also love the Tuscan tulip collection and Madame De Pompadour collections. Some stunning, colour coordinated collections.

J Parkers has some fabulous collections too. I have chosen my initial order and I bet this will be added to as I swoon at some more options!

Double Princess collection is on my list, which has Orange, Purple and Red princess tulips. Also, Royal Wedding collection and the Fringed collection looks lovely too.

I noticed they also have a collection called Soul Mates and this has Ronaldo and Jimmy, a pairing that I have in some pots and can thoroughly recommend.

So many beautiful tulips for spring, I am having a swoon at the thought of my displays in the garden. And I am sure that thinking about new tulips over the cold and dreary winter will be a boost to our wellbeing.

Click here for Sarah Raven tulips

Click here for J Parkers tulips

One more tulip photo

Finally, I just could not resist adding a photo of my all time favourite, Queen of Night. A gorgeous satiny black tulip that I have been growing for over thirty years. One that comes back reliably every year and one of the most famous tulips for spring displays.

Of course, I add to the numbers each year as I cannot resist this one.

Some are in the borders; others are in pots. Also, with my new colourful tulip world, I have planted some with bright orange tulips so some fantastic zingy pots of colour to enjoy each spring.

There are so many different tulips to choose from, in a fabulous variety of colours, sizes and shapes. Try some new varieties perhaps and look forward to a colourful spring.

I hope you have enjoyed this post and will have plenty of spring colour in your gardens and pots next year. I will publish some more tulip posts, split into colours in the next couple of months. Some other spring bulb posts too.

This blog is an affiliate for J Parkers and Sarah Raven. If you click on one of these links above, and make a purchase I may receive a commission, at no additional cost to you.

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