Red tulip varieties

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

Varieties
17
Height
4–22 in (10–56 cm)
Hardiness
USDA zones 3–8
Form

3 Greigii

3 Parrot

3 Species

2 Lily-flowered

2 Kaufmanniana

1 Darwin hybrid

1 Triumph

1 Fosteriana

1 Double early

Compare all 17 side by side

All 17 red tulip varieties

A Apeldoorn tulip flower up close on the plant Apeldoorn Darwin Hybrid tulip with large red flowers, 18-20 inches, mid spring. Mid spring18–20 in (45–50 cm)Darwin hybrid
A Ballerina tulip flower up close on the plant Ballerina Lily-flowered tulip in blood-red and marigold orange, 16 to 20 inches tall. Late spring16–20 in (41–51 cm)Lily-flowered
A Casa Grande tulip flower up close on the plant Casa Grande Greigii tulip with large tomato-red flowers and a black center, 18 inches tall. Early spring18 in (46 cm)Greigii
A Estella Rijnveld tulip flower up close on the plant Estella Rijnveld Heirloom Parrot tulip with twisted red and white flamed petals on 18-20 inch stems. Mid spring, Late spring18–20 in (46–51 cm)Parrot
A Flaming Parrot tulip flower up close on the plant Flaming Parrot Parrot tulip with yellow petals flamed red, on 18 to 22 inch stems. Late spring18–22 in (46–56 cm)Parrot
Floresta Kaufmanniana tulip striped red and white, yellow interior, 8 inches, early spring. Early spring8 in (20 cm)Kaufmanniana
A Graefin Bettina tulip flower up close on the plant Graefin Bettina Greigii tulip, yellow with thick red flames and mottled foliage, 10 to 12 inches tall. Early spring, Mid spring10–12 in (25–30 cm)Greigii
A Jan Reus tulip flower up close on the plant Jan Reus Triumph tulip with deep velvet red goblet flowers, 20 inches, mid spring. Mid spring20 in (50 cm)Triumph
A Lady Jane tulip flower up close on the plant Lady Jane Species tulip with rosy-red outer petals and ivory-white inside, 6 to 12 inches tall. Mid spring6–12 in (15–30 cm)Species
A Little Beauty tulip flower up close on the plant Little Beauty Cherry-red miniature species tulip with a white-edged blue center, 4 inches tall. Late spring4 in (10 cm)Species
A Marilyn tulip flower up close on the plant Marilyn Lily-flowered tulip with white petals flamed red, 22 inches tall. Mid spring, Late spring22 in (56 cm)Lily-flowered
A Red Emperor tulip flower up close on the plant Red Emperor Heirloom Fosteriana tulip with red flowers over a yellow base, up to 7 inches across. Early spring, Mid spring16–18 in (41–46 cm)Fosteriana
A Red Princess tulip flower up close on the plant Red Princess Double Early tulip, scarlet with maroon-purple blush, sport of Orange Princess. Mid spring12–14 in (30–36 cm)Double early
A Rococo tulip flower up close on the plant Rococo Parrot tulip with ruffled red petals edged in green on 16-inch stems. Late spring16 in (41 cm)Parrot
A The First tulip flower up close on the plant The First Heirloom Kaufmanniana tulip, carmine-red edged white, 8-10 inches, early spring. Early spring8–10 in (20–25 cm)Kaufmanniana
A Toronto tulip flower up close on the plant Toronto Multi-flowering greigii tulip with tangerine-red petals and mottled foliage, 14 inches tall. Early spring, Mid spring14 in (36 cm)Greigii
A Tulipa linifolia tulip flower up close on the plant Tulipa linifolia Scarlet-red species tulip with purplish-black bases, 4 to 6 inches tall, blooming in May. Late spring4–6 in (10–15 cm)Species

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. Red can appear on its own or as one color in a flamed or edged tulip. If you want a single clear red, look in the Color column for varieties listed with red alone.

  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
Apeldoorn Darwin hybrid 18–20 in (45–50 cm) 3–8 Mid spring Full sun, Part sun, Part shade
Ballerina Lily-flowered 16–20 in (41–51 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun
Casa Grande Greigii 18 in (46 cm) 3–8 Early spring Full sun, Part shade
Estella Rijnveld Parrot 18–20 in (46–51 cm) 3–8 Mid spring, Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Flaming Parrot Parrot 18–22 in (46–56 cm) 4–7 Late spring Full sun
Floresta Kaufmanniana 8 in (20 cm) 3–8 Early spring Full sun (estimated)
Graefin Bettina Greigii 10–12 in (25–30 cm) 3–7 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun (estimated)
Jan Reus Triumph 20 in (50 cm) 3–8 (estimated) Mid spring Full sun (estimated)
Lady Jane Species 6–12 in (15–30 cm) 4–8 Mid spring Full sun
Little Beauty Species 4 in (10 cm) 4–8 Late spring Full sun
Marilyn Lily-flowered 22 in (56 cm) 3–8 Mid spring, Late spring Full sun, Part shade
Red Emperor Fosteriana 16–18 in (41–46 cm) 3–8 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Red Princess Double early 12–14 in (30–36 cm) 3–7 Mid spring Full sun (estimated)
Rococo Parrot 16 in (41 cm) 3–8 Late spring Full sun, Part shade
The First Kaufmanniana 8–10 in (20–25 cm) 3–8 Early spring Full sun (estimated)
Toronto Greigii 14 in (36 cm) 3–8 Early spring, Mid spring Full sun, Part shade
Tulipa linifolia Species 4–6 in (10–15 cm) 4–8 Late spring Full sun

Values marked like this (estimated) are estimates.

Frequently asked questions

Why is a dark red tulip missing from this page?

We record burgundy and near-black separately from red. A wine-red or maroon tulip is recorded as burgundy or near-black, so this page stays with tulips a seller describes as red.

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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