Tulip Bulbs for Sale

Dutch Tulip Bulbs in Premium Sizes

Tulips come in almost every colour, and a wide range of sizes. The dwarf "rockery" tulips are tough and often flower with frost on the ground. The later, larger tulips are also hardy but prefer higher light levels, and locations where they are sheltered from the wind. Planted in a border, they spread and put on a show before your perennials and sweet peas are ready to strut their stuff. Browse the rest of our range of spring flowering bulbs, or all of our garden bulbs.

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• Uses: Tulips are ideal for containers, rockeries and well drained borders etc where they can naturalise.
• Good Points: Wonderful range of colour, shape and flowering time
• Position: All tulips like the sun, and fertile soil that is dry in winter. The larger varieties need a bit of shelter from the wind.

Tulip FAQ's

There is more detailed information on tulip bulbs in the advice section of this site, but here are some fairly concise answers to the questions most usually asked:

Will tulips grow in my garden?

Almost certainly, they are not fussy plants but are happiest with the following:

• Position - All tulips flower better in a sunny spot. Some will do OK in dappled shade
• Soil - These are quite greedy bulbs. Try to plant them in good soil containing plenty of organic matter with decent drainage.
• Wind - No bulbs really like the wind, and the longer their stems, the less happy they are. 

The best Tulips to choose

Breeders produce new varieties every year. About 170 hold an Award of Garden Merit from the RHS which is an astonishing number. So any list of recommendations will omit world-class flowers, but here are just a few of our favourites:

• Red: Abba, Aladdin
• Pink: Sweet Flag, Foxtrot, Pink Impression
• White: Claudia, White Triumphator
• Green(ish): Spring Green
• Orange: Orange Brilliant
• Purple: Negrita, 
• Blue (ish): Blue Parrot
• Yellow: Caractere, Golden Apeldoorn
• Dwarf: Red Riding Hood

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When to plant Tulips

Late October is as early as we would push it. Late November - early December is best because the lower soil temperatures won't allow diseases in the soil to infect your bulbs. 

How to Plant Tulips?

Before any detail, there is a simple division to make depending on your soil. If it is wet and acidic, tulips will flower perfectly well, but they won't establish and you will need new bulbs every year. Full stop (don't waste your time with what follows, just treat them as annuals). If your soil is neutral to alkaline then if you take a bit more trouble most tulips will establish and multiply if well planted. Dig a hole 6-8" (20cm) deep, spread a couple of inches of compost in the bottom and put the bulbs on it 3" apart. Cover with soil. If you plant as deep as this they will flower more reliably in subsequent years. 
For strong establishment and the best flowering, we recommend using the Bulb Starter Rootgrow blend.

Tulip Aftercare

Keep weed-free. Dead-head as soon as the petals have fallen. Feed with a high potassium fertiliser like ‘Tomorite’ weekly for four weeks after flowering. When the foliage has completely died down, you can lift (see below) or cut the leaves off and leave the bulbs in the ground. 

Do I Need to Lift and Store My Tulips?

Depending on the tulip variety and your situation, there are times when it is best to remove bulbs from the soil overwinter, after the leaves have died down. 

If you choose lift your bulbs, clean off any soil and throw away any that are diseased, damaged or undersized. Spread them out to dry completely before hanging them in net bags in a dry, warm, dark, place where they can stay until replanting time. 

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Tulips as Cut Flowers

On the plant, in cool weather tulips can last for as long as six weeks. Indoors they can still look good as cut flowers for up to 10 days. Cut when they are still in bud and just showing some colour. Put the stems directly into a vase of lukewarm water containing a teaspoon of sugar and a very little bleach out of direct sun. Keep water level about 1/3rd up the stems and change every 3-4 days. Rotate the vase daily.

Premium Dutch Tulip Bulbs by Mail Order

Most of our plants and bulbs are UK grown, but not tulips. Holland is the home of tulips, and we import only their premium grade bulbs. Generally speaking, bulbs that you buy on special offer at the supermarket are not premium sizes, which is why they are cheaper!