Tulips are a lavish spring gift that all gardeners can give to themselves and to their neighborhoods with just a little advance planning. Whether you order your tulip bulbs as early as possible in summer through your favorite supplier, or you purchase them at the last minute from the garden center just before the ground freezes, getting them into the ground this fall will pay big dividends next spring. Listen in as Danielle, Carol, and our experts talk about some tulip varieties that would be surefire choices for a spectacular spring display.

Expert guests: Nick and Olivia Heltzel are the owners of Inch by Inch Permaculture in Wheelock, Vermont, where they grow tulips as a sustainable cut-flower alternative for regional markets and events.

Danielle’s Plants

‘Claudia’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Claudia’, Zones 3–7)

‘Alba Coerulea Oculata’ species tulip (Tulipa humilus ‘Alba Coerulea Oculata’, Zones 4–8)

‘Spring Green’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Spring Green’, Zones 3–7)

‘Red Riding Hood’ Greig’s tulip (Tulipa greigii ‘Red Riding Hood’, Zones 4–8)

Carol’s Plants

‘Princess Irene’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Princess Irene’, Zones 3–8)
‘Pretty Princess’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pretty Princess’, Zones 3–8)

Link to Irvin Etienne’s article Bright Ideas for Spring Containers

‘Lady Jane’ lady tulip (Tulipa clusiana ‘Lady Jane’, Zones 3–7)

‘Tangerine Beauty’ species tulip (Tulipa vvedenskyi ‘Tangerine Beauty’, Zones 3–7)

Expert’s Plants

‘Dreamer’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Dreamer’, Zones 3–8)

‘Pink Star’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Pink Star’, Zones 3–8)

‘Apricot Parrot’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Apricot Parrot’, Zones 3–7)

‘Verona’ tulip (Tulipa ‘Verona’, Zones 3–7)