Types of Tulips and their different flowers.
There are many different flower and growth types in the Tulip
range - each with differing flower shapes and general habits of
growth. Tulips can be grown to flower from early spring - late
winter even - though to the first few days of summer.
There are strict classifications of tulips - changed over the
years. This types we outline or more 'descriptive' than
enthusiastically correct. Tulip anoraks please forgive!
Whatever the type of Tulip that turns you on, one thing is
sure. You will be pleased with the vibrant colours of the garden
hybrids and intrigued by the subtlety of the lesser known
species Tulips.
Tulip flower types can be classed as
- Single Cup-Shaped Tulips.
- Single Early Tulips fall into this category.
- The Triumph group of tulips are representative of the singe
cup-shaped blooms.
- Darwin Hybrid Tulips are cup shaped singles - but more
elongated flowers, and generally much larger. They are amongst
the most popular of the group.
- Rembrandt Tulips - so named because of the viral splashes of
contrasting colours that are visible on the outer petals.
- Double Bowl-shaped Tulips.
- The Double Early types have so many petals that they form
into a bowl rather than cup-shaped bloom.
- The Late Double Early tulips - like their Double Early
forerunners are with short stems and so suited for bedding
schemes. Sometimes referred to as Peony flowered tulips - not
without good reason.
- Goblet Shaped Tulips.
- Old fashioned - but the still popular Darwin Tulips are the
mainstay of public parks bedding schemes.
- Cottage Tulips - marginally different to the Darwins -
always a popular choice. Both are good bedding tulips owing to
the flower size, which is more sustainable in the windy weather.
- The other mainstay of the Goblet shaped tulips are the
Lily-flowered Tulips. Similar to the above - but with pronounced
pointed petals - often curved outwards.
- Fringed-Petal Tulips are a group to themselves.
Similar to the cup shapes but with frilly petals.
- Star-Shaped Tulips.
- Star shaped tulips are normally found in the 'Botanical
Species' section, and are often unlike the 'normal tulips that
we know (Wait for the indignant emails!) They are often
bi-coloured or at least splashed with contrasting or
complimentary colours.
- Parrot Tulips.
- The ostentatious Parrot Tulips are often classed in the
cup-shaped division. Most are so open and floppy that they can
hardly be classed as 'cups'.
- Kaufmanniana Tulips.
- These are the rockery and selected places type of tulip.
Many different forms - but almost always dwarf.
- Greigii Tulips.
- Tulipa Red Riding Hood - ever popular with its scarlet
blooms and striped foliage are often sold or referred to as
Kaufmmaniana Tulips. They are not. They belong to the T.
greigii group. In most respects they have the growth habits of
the Kaufman however.
This is just the start - or end - of the classification of tulip
flower types, for within all of these shapes there are many variations.
Growing Tulips