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Tulip Bulb Planting Guide
Gardeners have been smitten by the simple, elegant beauty of Tulips for hundreds of years, and with spectacular new varieties emerging all the time, there's no sign of them stopping! These brightly colored blooms illuminate in early spring and are perfect for both container and ground plantings. Not to mention, they add stunning sophistication and whimsy to cut arrangements. Read on for all of our tips and tricks on how to plant and care for Tulips.
Success Snapshot

PLANTING
DEPTH
6-7", 3x bulb height

WATER
QUANTITY
Moderate with growth

SUNLIGHT
QUANTITY
Full Sun

PLANTING
PROXIMITY
4-5" Apart

BLOOM
SEASON
Spring

HARDINESS
ZONES
Zones 3-8
Shop Related Products

Tulip Flaming Fire Mix
$11.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Dyanito
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Dyanito'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Purple Dream
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Purple Dream'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Aquilla
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Aquilla', syn. 'Aquila'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Abba
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Abba'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Marilyn
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Marilyn'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Flaming Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Flaming Parrot'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Hollywood
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Hollywood'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Nightrider
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Nightrider'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Clusiana Lady Jane
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa clusiana 'Lady Jane'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Dasystemon Tarda
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Tarda'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Judith Leyster
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Judith Leyster'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Fringed Curly Sue
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Curly Sue'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Pulchella Violacea
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa pulchella 'Violacea', syn. humilis 'Violacea'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Ballade
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Ballade'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Chocolate and Vanilla Tulip & Daffodil Blend
$15.95
Contains: N/A
Botanical Name: Narcissus and Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: N/A

Tulip Estella Rijnveld Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Estella Rijnveld'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Fantasy Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Fantasy'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Crispy Cream Tulip & Daffodil Blend
$13.95
Contains: N/A
Botanical Name: Narcissus and Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: N/A

Moon and Stars Tulip & Daffodil Blend
$11.95
Contains: N/A
Botanical Name: Narcissus and Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: N/A

Tulip Sylvestris
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa sylvestris
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Black Hero
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Black Hero'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Muscari & Tulip "Baby Shower" Blend
$10.95
Contains: N/A
Botanical Name: Muscari and Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: N/A

Tulip Mona Lisa
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Mona Lisa'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Bakeri Lilac Wonder
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa bakeri 'Lilac Wonder', syn. saxatilis 'Lilac Wonder'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 5-8

Tulip Webers Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Webers Parrot'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Yonina
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Yonina'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Jungle Parrot Mix
$12.95
Contains: 10 large bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Perfect Match Mix
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Couleur Cardinal
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Couleur Cardinal'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Francoise
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Francoise'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Fringed Mascotte
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Mascotte'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Menton
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Menton'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Little Princess
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Little Princess'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Perestroyka
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Perestroyka'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Dreaming Maid
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Dreaming Maid'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Double Negrita
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Negrita Double'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Black Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Black Parrot'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Exotic Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Exotic Parrot'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Marjoletti
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Marjoletti'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip China Town
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'China Town'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Winsome Wildings Mix
$6.95
Contains: 10 robust bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Evening Breeze Tulip & Daffodil Blend
$10.95
Contains: N/A
Botanical Name: Narcissus and Tulipa
Exposure: Full Sun to Partial Sun
Hardiness: N/A

Tulip Praestans Unicum
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa praestans 'Unicum'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Foxtrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Foxtrot'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Apricot Parrot
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Apricot Parrot'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Avignon
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Avignon'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Clusiana Chrysantha
$7.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa clusiana 'Chrysantha'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip White Triumphator
$10.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'White Triumphator'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8

Tulip Danceline
$12.95
Contains: 10 tulip bulbs
Botanical Name: Tulipa 'Danceline'
Exposure: Full Sun; Bright Direct Indoors
Hardiness: Zones 3-8
Where to Plant Tulips
While Tulips are relatively easy to grow, plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil are what makes them happiest. If you notice puddles of water 5–6 hours after a hard rain, scout out another site or amend the soil with organic material to raise the level 2–3 inches. Tulips fancy a place with full or partial sun, but in zones 7 or 8 avoid planting them someplace where they might get excessive heat, such as against a south-facing wall or fence. Choose a spot that allows for bulbs to be planted 4 to 6 inches apart and offers shelter from the wind for taller varieties.
When to Plant Tulips
Plant your bulbs in the fall, 6 to 8 weeks before a hard frost is expected, to give them time to establish themselves. In colder climates it's best to plant in September or October, and in warmer regions bulbs can be planted in December or later. Foliage and flowers can be expected to appear in the spring.
How to Plant Tulips
- For outdoor landscape planting, find a spot where the soil drains well, and your Tulips will receive full sun to light shade. Dig holes and plant the bulbs 5" apart and 6" to 7" deep at the base with the pointy end facing up.
- For container planting, start with good quality, well-drained soil, and plant your Tulips 4" apart and 6" to 7" deep at the base with the pointy end facing up. Remember that shorter varieties usually perform better in all but the largest containers, and deeper planting depths are better in colder regions.
- Water thoroughly, soaking the soil to settle it around the bulbs without air pockets.
How to Grow Tulips
- Water as needed during active growth periods, supplying about 1" of moisture per week.
- Leave the foliage in place after blooming has finished for the season. The leaves will gather sunlight to create food through photosynthesis, strengthening the bulb for the future.
- Remove the dry foliage when the leaves turn yellow and die back around early summer to give your Tulips a clean slate before beginning the next growing cycle.
- Allow the soil to dry out when the leaves are absent and the bulbs are dormant.
Tulip Tips & Tricks
- Amend the soil with compost, ground bark, or composted manure to improve drainage and encourage a healthy start.
- Expect roots to form in the fall, with foliage and flowers emerging in the spring.
- Avoid letting the soil remain soggy, which can cause the bulbs to rot.
- Allow Tulip bulbs to enjoy several weeks of winter chill, but in areas that experience freezing temperatures, move container-planted bulbs into a sheltered spot like an unheated garage until green shoots begin to emerge.
- Snip a few of these vibrant flowers when in bloom for striking bouquets.