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An enduring symbol of love and passion, the color red can have a warm, romantic presence in the landscape or it can be exotic and explosive. This bold, bright hue is especially welcome in spring after we’ve endured months of cold, gray, winter.
Red is the most common tulip flower color, and is also arguably the most popular. Botanists have encouraged and experimented with it for centuries in a quest to capture the color’s beauty and fire in this spring-blooming, perennial bulb.
Now that we have hundreds of red tulip cultivars and hybrids on the market, the only hard part is choosing a few to try at home. Whether you’re looking for a traditional, red standard or a dramatic, whimsical hybrid, we’ve assembled a list of 27 red tulip varieties for your consideration.
Read on to learn a bit more about each one’s growing profile and unique characteristics, and get ready for some big, bold color next spring.
‘Red Riding Hood’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Riding Hood’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 6-12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
With a classic profile and a single-flower shape, Red Riding Hood features deep red blooms atop stems that are relatively short at less than a foot. Foliage is unique, with sage green leaves dashed by lines of burgundy.
Compact size makes this cultivar a good choice for slopes and/or rocky borders. Blooms steadily for weeks in mid spring.
‘Hollandia’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Hollandia’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 12-16 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
A member of the Triumph tulip class, this cultivar has goblet-shaped petals in a deep, bold red hue. Foliage is medium green with some white mottling and stands erect beneath large blooms.
Stems are long and sturdy. Hollandia is easy to force into early bloom should you desire some bold red color in the house during late winter or early spring. Lasts a long time after cutting.
‘Red Emperor’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Emperor’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 14-16 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Early/Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Also known (and sold) as ‘Madame Lefeber,’ this cultivar is well recognized and often planted in large drifts. Blooms are scarlet red and slender, but open wide in the sun. This tulip variety spreads easily and can be counted on to return for many years.
As a member of the Fosteriana group, Red Emperor blooms early in the season atop strong stems and has some attractive striping on its foliage.
‘Toyota’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Toyota’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 22-26 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Petals are a soft, muted red with white edging on this Single Late class tulip. Blooms are showy and give off a pleasant scent in late spring.Stems are long and sturdy, holding up well in high winds and rain.
Make sure soil drains well and that Toyota will get plenty of sunshine. This cultivar makes a fine addition to cutting garden as it will last for weeks in a vase.
‘Glasnost’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Glasnost’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 16-20 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
This Parrot tulip has crimson petals with ruffled, orange edges. Use it where a bold presence will not detract from other nearby flowers, as it will demand attention wherever it’s planted.
Pair Glasnost with other spring bulbs in the yellow and orange family for a complementary palette. Like other members of the Parrot family, this cultivar is prone to petal loss and breakage in high winds. It’s a good choice for zones with less volatile weather in late spring.
‘Kingsblood’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Kingsblood’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 24-28 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
A Single-late tulip with cherry red blooms and a classic egg shape, this cultivar stands 24-28 inches tall and peaks in late spring. Kingsblood’s simple profile and hardy characteristics makes it a common selection for mass plantings.
Blooms are highly fragrant and will fill up your kitchen with their scent when cut and brought inside. This particular variety can also be forced into early bloom with great success.
‘Red Impression’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Impression’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 20-24 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Showy and tall in stature, Red Impression is a Darwin Hybrid tulip, which means it’s known for being resistant to pests and disease. Blooms are compact and cup-shaped with blood red petals and dark bases.
This cultivar will spread easily and return year after year when planted in a location that drains well and gets plenty of sunshine. While they may sway dramatically in mid spring winds, their stems are strong and do not usually break.
‘Apeldoorn’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Apeldoorn’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 20-24 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Flowers are predominantly cherry red on this Darwyn Hybrid tulip, but petals may have a bit of an orange tinge. Inside the egg-shaped blooms, centers are bright yellow and circled with black anthers. This gives them an eye-like effect when flowers are fully open during the day.
Long, sturdy stems give Apeldoorn a lot of wind resistance and perform well in a vase. Foliage is narrow, light green in color, and distinctly upright in form.
‘Aladdin’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Riding Hood’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 18-22 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Petals are narrow, pointed, and flex outward on this Lily-flowered tulip variety. Bloom color is a bright red with yellow at the edges. Aladdin can handle some shade, so it’s a good choice beneath trees that may filter sunlight in late spring.
Stems are a bit thin, so plant inside a group or near a fence to break up the wind. Grows well alongside yellow daffodils or grape hyacinths.
‘Carnivale De Nice’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Carnivale de Nice’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 14-20 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Blooms are full and peony-shaped on this beautiful multi-color tulip. Petals are predominantly white with bold red flames radiating up from the flower base. As a member of the Double Late tulip category, Carnivale lasts an extra long time in the vase.
Leaves are a greenish-gray with white edges, providing a nice base for these long stemmed beauties. Flowers are typically about 3 inches wide and prove very attractive to pollinators.
‘Linifolia’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Linifolia’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 4-12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Early/Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Bearing a slight resemblance to the poinsettia, this cultivar features ovate, tomato-red petals in single form. Centers are black and prominent when fully open.
A member of the Botanical or Miscellaneous tulip group, Linifolia is short in stature and has a groundcover-like habit. Foliage is green-gray, waxy, and small in scale. Grows well in rocky soil or in the front of a mixed border.
‘Miranda’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Miranda’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 10-14 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Flowers are peony-shaped, classic red and have a satin-like sheen on this Double Late cultivar. Blooms are 4 inches wide and so heavy, they force the stems to arch gracefully in beds and bouquets.
Miranda looks equally at home in the city and the countryside. It can be combined with other spring bloomers to create a well-timed display, or planted in drifts on large properties.
‘Red Dynasty’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Dynasty’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 24-26 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
On this popular tulip cultivar, flower heads are a vivid, candy red in color and roughly 5 inches in diameter. A member of the Darwin Hybrid group, Red Dynasty is sturdy and tall, with strong stems that can handle extreme weather conditions.
This variety can be planted close together in a spring container or worked into a mixed border as a backdrop plant. Its size and classic profile make it a florists’ go-to for bouquets and centerpieces.
‘Rococo Parrot’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Rococo Parrot’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 16-20 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Showy and excessive in all the right ways, Rococo Parrot has ruffled, red-orange petals with burgundy and green feathering. Plant in full sun to part shade. Protect from hot afternoon sun in warmer zones.
As a member of the Parrot class, this cultivar might repeat next year, but it will not spread or perennialize easily. It is also relatively tall, but vulnerable to the elements. Keep these things in mind when choosing this variety and deciding where to plant it.
‘Peppermint Stick’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Peppermint Stick’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
While it reads mostly red when closed for the night, Peppermint Stick’s interior petals are white. When fully open, this creates a striping effect that resembles a piece of festive candy.
Stems are short at less than 12 inches, and foliage is mossy green. This cultivar can be forced to open during the holidays if bulbs are chilled early enough.
‘Amber Glow’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Amber Glow’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 12-20 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid/Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Featuring jewel-toned, red blooms with glowing amber bases, this Triumph class tulip opens in mid to late spring. Another good option for early forcing, Amber Glow is also a reliable repeat bloomer. Foliage is narrow and vivid green in color.
‘Firespray’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Firespray’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 8-12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Not only is this cultivar beautiful, but each bulb produces multiple blooms! So it’s like getting three tulips for the price of one. A member of the Lily-flowered class, Firespray features apple red petals that point upward and arch outward slightly.
Compact and fast spreading, this cultivar is a good choice for large areas beneath trees and on slopes. Plant it where you don’t need to control its habit and Firespray will keep coming back for many years.
‘Scarlett Majesty’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Scarlet Majesty’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 18-20 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
This Double Late variety has 7-inch blooms that look like peonies or roses at first glance. Petals are a rich, deep red color and multi-layered in form. Height is a bit short for bloom size, which gives Scarlet a unique profile.
An excellent cutting garden plant, this cultivar should be snipped when flowers are formed and just about to open. It will last for weeks in a vase and fill the room with a pleasant, light scent.
‘Red Matador’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Matador’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 24-26 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Like a bull-fighter’s flag signaling the onset of spring, Red Matador’s blooms are loud and exotic with bell-shaped, red petals. Stems are sturdy, upright, and have multiple leaves which intermingle to create a soft green base.
Simple color and form make this cultivar a fine addition to the mixed spring border. Can also be planted in large quantities for a Dutch farmstead effect. Forces easily and lasts long inside.
‘Valery Gergiev’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Valery Gergiev’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 16-18 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Named after a Russian orchestra and opera director, this variety offers all the scarlet drama of a night at the theater. Petals are bold and velvet red with hints of burgundy and ruffled edges.
As a member of the Fringed tulip class, Valery Gergiev blooms late atop mid-height stems that are juniper in hue. Tolerates some light shade and does not like hot afternoon sun.
‘Reputation’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Reputation’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 16-18 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Known for being particularly tolerant of extreme weather conditions, this tulip is favored by gardeners in the north. Blooms are goblet shaped on this Triumph variety. Petals are a clear, bright red with golden yellow edging and curve slightly inward.
Plant Reputation with yellow daffodils and grape hyacinth for a well-timed, primary palette spring garden. Its scent is pleasant and light.
‘Pinocchio’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Pinocchio’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 6-10 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
Like all Greigii tulips, Pinnochio is short in stature and blooms in early spring. Petals are cherry red with yellow margins. Blooms are lily-shaped and point gently outward.
Plant this cultivar in rocky beds or border fronts, where it will cover some ground with its mottled, sage colored leaves. Pinocchio spreads easily and will come back reliably for years to come.
‘Montana’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Montana’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 6-12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
This low-growing tulip has single layer, cup-shaped red petals with dark splotches at their bases and prominent yellow anthers. Its leaves are particularly eye-catching with margins that are wavy and incurved.
Montana thrives where winters are cold and summers are dry. It is known for being unattractive to grazing deer and naturalizes easily. Grow it in areas where it can be allowed to roam and drift.
‘Doll’s Minuet’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Doll’s Minuet’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 12-18 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Late Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
On this Viridiflora category tulip, ruby hued petals are delicate and flamed with green as they flare outward. They open to reveal a circle of black anthers at their bases.
Doll’s Minuet is one of the longest flowering tulip cultivars and will keep blooming for up to three weeks. When cut before it’s fully open, this tulip will also hold for an extended time in an interior arrangement.
‘Red Impression’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Impression’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 20-24 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
When fully open, flowers are up to 6 inches in diameter on this Darwin Hybrid tulip. Petals are cherry pepper red and oval shaped. A tried and true cultivar, Red Impression is easy to force and will grow in less than perfect soil conditions.
Foliage has a subtle striping and holds up well in water. Red impression perennializes easily and stands up to harsh winds.
‘Abba’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Abba’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 8-12 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Early/Mid Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
One of the most reliable, early spring blooming tulips, Abba begins with pink buds that open into flames of red with butter yellow centers. Peony-shaped with double blooms that are heavy and cause stems to arch slightly, this cultivar is also quite fragrant.
Abba grows easily in containers and can handle some crowding. Its large bloom size and relatively short stature makes it a good choice for the cutting garden as well.
‘Red Purissima’
Scientific Name: Tulipa ‘Red Purissima’
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Geographic Origin: Central Asia
- Plant Size: 12-18 inches
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Plant Zone: 3-8
A Fosteriana group tulip, Red Purissima features large, egg-shaped blooms atop mid-length, slender stems. Its extra long petals are crimson and have a yellow base that appears to glow in the sun.
Foliage is green-gray, slightly ovate, and larger in scale than typical tulip varieties. Plant this cultivar with yellow and purple crocus, daffodils, and hyacinth for a bold, bright, season-long display.
Final Thoughts
As you plan for next year’s tulip display, there are many red varieties on the market that will fulfill your need for bright, bold color. The trick is to find the right tulips for your needs, conditions and palette.
When considering a red cultivar, make sure your other spring flowering perennials will pair well with its unique tone, and think about how it will overlap with their bloom times. Make sure your chosen variety will complement your porch pots and play well against your brick, siding, or front door.
Next, consider the weather conditions in your zone and choose varieties that will work well for a specific location. Choose durable varieties in areas that will receive high winds, and reserve delicate varieties for more sheltered locations against a fence or brick wall.
Whether you’re planning a small cutting garden, a mixed perennial border, or a mass planting, red tulips are guaranteed to wake you up in spring and reignite your passion for gardening.
