Tulip bulbs
Tulip bulbs for a spring full of colour, from early botanical species to double tulips that look like peonies. Plant them this autumn in borders or pots and enjoy flowers in April and May. Tulip bulbs for a spring full of colour, from early botanical speci...
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Tulip bulbs for a spring full of colour
Nothing says spring quite like a tulip. Plant tulip bulbs in autumn and you can enjoy flowers from late March to mid-May, in almost any colour you can think of: pure white and soft pastels, fiery red, deep purple and near-black. This collection covers all the main tulip groups, from small botanical species to double tulips that look more like peonies, so you can choose early or late, short or tall, subtle or bold.
If you're looking to buy tulip bulbs, the good news is that they're among the easiest bulbs to grow. Each bulb already holds everything the plant needs to flower. You provide the right spot and the right timing, and winter does the rest. Below you'll find when and how deep to plant, which tulips suit your garden and what to do once they've finished. Looking for other bulbs too? Browse our full range of flower bulbs.
Why grow tulips?
Tulips have been a garden favourite for centuries, and it's easy to see why:
- Colour in abundance: no other spring flower comes in such a wide range of shades, from white and pink to orange, red, purple and almost black.
- Easy to plant: bulb in the ground, pointed end up, soil on top. That's really all there is to it.
- A tulip for every spot: they look great in borders, in pots and containers on a patio or balcony, and of course in a vase.
- A long season: combine early and late groups and you'll have tulips in flower for weeks.
- Some come back: botanical tulips and Darwin hybrids often flower for several years in a row.
When to plant tulip bulbs
The best time to plant tulip bulbs is from October to December. Tulips go in later than most other bulbs, and for good reason. They need a cold spell to flower, and cool soil greatly reduces the risk of fungal problems such as tulip fire. Wait until the soil has cooled to below about 10 °C before you start.
Planting tulip bulbs: UK and Ireland timing
In most of the UK and Ireland, November is the ideal month, although late October is fine in colder northern gardens. As long as the ground isn't frozen, you can keep planting through December and even into January. Late-planted bulbs flower a little later and sometimes on slightly shorter stems, but they do flower.
Can you plant tulip bulbs in spring?
Not if you want flowers the same year. Tulips need roughly twelve weeks of cold to form a flower, so bulbs planted in March or April usually produce leaves and little else. Found a forgotten bag in January? Plant it straight away while the ground is still workable, and you'll most likely still get a show.
How deep to plant tulip bulbs
The rule of thumb for all bulbs is two to three times the height of the bulb. For tulips that means 12 to 15 cm deep, measured from the base of the bulb. On light, sandy soil you can go a little deeper; on heavy clay, stick to the shallower end. Deeply planted tulips stand more firmly, are better protected from frost and are more likely to return.
Planting tulip bulbs step by step
- Choose the spot: tulips like full sun or light shade and free-draining soil. Waterlogged ground causes bulbs to rot.
- Loosen the soil: dig over the top layer and work some grit or compost into heavy clay.
- Pointed end up: space the bulbs 8 to 10 cm apart, or closer for a fuller look.
- Backfill and firm: cover with soil and firm gently. Only water if the autumn is very dry.
- Keep rodents out: mice and squirrels love tulip bulbs. A piece of chicken wire over the planting area helps.
When do tulips flower?
The tulip season runs from late March to mid-May, depending on the group and the weather. Greigii and Praestans tulips and most botanical species are the first to open. Triumph tulips, the largest group with the most colours, follow in April. Towards the end of April the Darwin hybrids open their large blooms, and the late double tulips round off the season in May.
Combine a few groups and you'll get weeks of colour instead of one short burst. To start even earlier, plant your tulips alongside daffodils, crocuses and other spring bulbs. For what comes next, alliums are the perfect follow-on: their round flower heads appear just as the last tulips fade.
Which tulips should you choose?
Tulips are grouped by flowering time, flower shape and origin. The tulip bulbs for sale in this collection cover the main groups, each with its own character.
Triumph tulips
The classic tulip and the largest group. Triumph tulips have sturdy stems of around 40 to 50 cm and an elegant, cup-shaped flower. They bloom in April and come in almost every colour. At Green Bubble you can choose from Red, Black, Pink, Purple and White, among others, as well as mixes where the shades have already been matched for you. Their strong stems also make them excellent cut flowers.
Darwin hybrids
Darwin hybrids have the largest flowers of all tulips, held on long, strong stems. They bloom towards the end of April and are known for coming back more reliably than other large tulips. The Darwin Hybrid mix gives you a colourful group in one go.
Greigii and Praestans tulips
If you want colour early in the season, these are your tulips. Greigii tulips stay low and have striking striped or mottled leaves, so they're decorative even before they flower. We offer them in Red and as a mix. Praestans tulips carry several flowers per stem and are very hardy. Both groups are ideal for pots, rockeries and the front of a border.
Double tulips
Double tulips have so many petals that they look more like peonies than classic tulips. They flower late, at the end of April and into May, extending the tulip season. Our range includes Double Lilac, Double Pink, Sensation and Gudoshnik Double. Give them a spot that's a little sheltered from the wind, as the heavy blooms can catch a lot of rain.
Botanical tulips
Botanical tulips are close to the wild species from which all tulips descend. They're smaller, more delicate and often very tough. Tulipa sylvestris is a lovely example: a yellow, lightly scented tulip that happily naturalises in grass and under shrubs. If you're after bulbs that come back every year, botanical tulips are your best choice, or take a look at our naturalising bulbs.
Tulip bulb mix
Not sure which colours to pick? A tulip bulb mix such as the Pastel, Blueberry or Prince mix gives you a set of colours that already work well together. No guesswork, and the result is always balanced. If you'd like different types of bulbs combined in one pack, have a look at our bulb mixes.
Tulips for every spot in the garden
In borders
Tulips look their best in groups. Allow 50 to 70 bulbs per square metre, or plant them in clusters of ten to fifteen between perennials. As the perennials come into leaf, they'll hide the fading tulip foliage. Repeat the same colour a few times along the border for a calm effect, or choose one bold colour as a focal point.
How to plant tulip bulbs in pots
Tulips do very well in pots and containers on a patio or balcony. You can plant them closer together here, almost touching, for a full display. Choose a pot with a drainage hole and add a layer of crocks or gravel at the bottom so excess water can drain away. Shorter types such as Greigii tulips stay neat and upright. You'll find a suitable container among our outdoor pots and baskets. In a hard frost, move the pot against a wall or wrap it up so the bulbs don't freeze.
Bulb lasagne
With the lasagne method you plant different bulbs in layers in one pot. Tulips go at the bottom, hyacinths in the middle and a layer of crocuses on top. The crocuses open first, then the hyacinths and finally the tulips, so one pot keeps flowering for weeks.
Tulip care after flowering
What you do after flowering largely decides whether a tulip comes back next year. These steps help you get the most from your bulbs:
- Deadhead: remove the faded flower and seed pod so the plant doesn't put energy into making seed.
- Leave the leaves: the foliage builds up reserves for next year. Only cut it back once it's yellow and limp, usually about six weeks after flowering.
- Feed lightly: a little bulb fertiliser or compost in early spring helps the bulb build up strength.
- Store pot bulbs dry: lift tulips from pots once the foliage has died back, let them dry and store them somewhere cool and airy until autumn.
- Top up each year: large hybrid tulips often flower less in their second year, which is why many gardeners plant a fresh batch every autumn.
Tulip bulbs and flowers are not edible. Keep them out of reach of pets and young children, and wear gloves if you have sensitive skin.
Order your tulip bulbs from Green Bubble
✔ Fresh from the grower
✔ Early, late, single and double tulips in every colour
✔ Clear advice on timing, depth and care
✔ Personal advice from our Personal Plantshopper
Pick your favourite colours, plant them this autumn and enjoy your own sea of tulips next spring. Not sure which tulips suit your garden? Our Personal Plantshopper is happy to help you choose.
