Purple tulip varieties

These tulips carry purple in the flower, as the main color or inside a blend or edge. The table below compares their group, height, hardiness zones and bloom time side by side.

Varieties
7
Height
12–22 in (30–56 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–8
Form

4 Triumph

1 Viridiflora

1 Double late

1 Parrot

Compare all 7 side by side

All 7 purple tulip varieties

A Arabian Mystery tulip flower up close on the plant Arabian Mystery Triumph tulip, violet purple edged white, about 45 cm, mid-season. Mid spring, Late spring18 in (45 cm)Triumph
A Artist tulip flower up close on the plant Artist Viridiflora tulip with fluted salmon-orange petals marked green and purple, RHS AGM. Mid spring, Late spring12–16 in (30–41 cm)Viridiflora
A Blue Diamond tulip flower up close on the plant Blue Diamond Double Late tulip with layered lavender-purple blooms on 14-16 inch stems. Mid spring, Late spring14–16 in (36–41 cm)Double late
A Blue Parrot tulip flower up close on the plant Blue Parrot Parrot tulip with ruffled violet petals tinged bluish-bronze on 22-inch stems. Late spring22 in (56 cm)Parrot
A Negrita tulip flower up close on the plant Negrita Triumph tulip with deep purple flowers and beetroot-purple veins on 18 inch stems. Mid spring18 in (46 cm)Triumph
A Paul Scherer tulip flower up close on the plant Paul Scherer Triumph tulip with purple-black egg-shaped flowers on 16-18 inch stems in mid-spring. Mid spring16–18 in (41–46 cm)Triumph
A Princess Irene tulip flower up close on the plant Princess Irene Triumph tulip, orange flamed purple, 12-14 inches, mid spring. Mid spring12–14 in (30–36 cm)Triumph

How to choose

  1. Start with the group. The tulip classification sorts tulips by flower shape and flowering time, so the Form column tells you whether a variety opens early, mid-season or late in spring.

  2. Purple in tulips ranges from violet to deep plum, and sellers' color words vary. Compare the swatches in the table with the seller's photo before you order.

  3. Check the Height column before you plan the bed. Tulips of the same color can differ a lot in height, and a tall variety set in front of a short one will hide it.

Compare side by side

Color Sunlight
Arabian Mystery Triumph 18 in (45 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Mid spring, Late spring Full sun, Part sun, Part shade
Artist Viridiflora 12–16 in (30–41 cm) 3–8 Mid spring, Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Blue Diamond Double late 14–16 in (36–41 cm) 3–7 Mid spring, Late spring Full sun
Blue Parrot Parrot 22 in (56 cm) 4–7 Late spring Full sun
Negrita Triumph 18 in (46 cm) 3–8 Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Paul Scherer Triumph 16–18 in (41–46 cm) 3–8 Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Princess Irene Triumph 12–14 in (30–36 cm) 3–8 Mid spring Full sun, Part sun

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a lilac or lavender tulip missing from this page?

We record lavender separately from purple, because a pale lilac and a deep purple are different choices in a planting. A tulip with both shades appears here because purple is one of its colors.

When should these tulip bulbs be planted?

In fall, before your first frost, according to Penn State Extension; Iowa State notes they can go in as late as December if the ground is not frozen. Our bulb calendar gives the first frost date for your ZIP code.

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