The tulip family includes several hundred different cultivars, and new ones are added every year. That is why tulips have been divided into a dozen or so basic groups. Botanical tulips
These are the earliest-flowering of all tulips. The group includes dozens of varieties with small leaves (up to 20 cm long) and fairly large flowers, mostly in pure colours. Within the botanical tulips there are several subgroups, for example Greigii tulips (flowering in late March and early April, with wavy leaves marked with reddish spots), Fosteriana tulips (flowering in April, with large red flowers) and Kaufmanniana tulips (with a triangular spot on the outer petals, flowering in March and staying small).
Single early tulips
This group flowers quite early – in late March and early April – and grows up to 30 cm tall. The flowers are single, mostly one-coloured, with six petals. They are excellent for borders by the house and are often used for forcing.
Double early tulips
They flower in the first half of April and reach 25–30 cm. The flowers differ from ordinary tulips in having more petals, so the bloom is broader and fuller. This group is widely used in flower gardens and on terraces.
Darwin hybrids
Tulips in this group have large flowers with glossy, oval petals, usually in a single colour. They flower in the second half of April and grow to about 50 cm. Thanks to their disease resistance and quick multiplication they are widely used in flower gardens. They come from crossing Darwin tulips with Fosteriana tulips.
Triumph tulips
Another group, created by crossing Darwin tulips with single early tulips. On stems up to 50 cm tall, in the second half of April – or in the first half of May after a long winter – multicoloured flowers appear, often with bright edges and matt petals. They are excellent as cut flowers in bouquets and in borders.
Crispa tulips
Sometimes called fringed tulips. Their characteristic feature is petals fringed at the tips. The group was created recently, but thanks to its beauty it quickly became very popular. They grow to 40–50 cm and usually flower in May. They look wonderful combined with other bulbous plants.
Green tulips
Also known as Viridiflora tulips. This group grows up to 40 cm tall and flowers fairly late for tulips, in the second half of May. Their distinctive feature, which sets them apart from other groups, is green markings on the flowers – streaks, patches or even almost entirely green blooms. Lily-flowered tulips
A beautiful group flowering in early May. The slender flowers with pointed petals come in various colours and look especially lovely in full sun. The plants reach about 45–50 cm. They are increasingly popular despite being sensitive to poor conditions.
Single late tulips
They grow quite large and flower in the second half of May. The flowers can be many colours, even almost black. They are very often used as cut flowers because they last a long time. They are also good for forcing.
Double late tulips
Very similar to the early doubles, but they flower in the second half of May and grow larger. The flowers are even fuller.
Parrot tulips
This group grows up to 55–60 cm tall and flowers in late May. It is characterised by large, heavy, two-coloured flowers with deeply fringed and twisted petals.
Rembrandt tulips
Created by crossing Darwin and Breeder tulips; their variegated colours were originally caused by a virus infection. Virus-free varieties are available today. These beautiful tulips grow up to 40 cm and flower in May. The flowers have streaked petals with regular stripes.
Descriptions of each tulip variety with photos can be found below, and you can learn how to grow them in the tulip growing section.