Tulips are one of the most iconic and beloved spring flowers. Their cheerful blooms in vibrant hues lift the spirit after a long winter. Tulips also make fantastic cut flowers brightening up any home or special event with their graceful forms and elegant simplicity.

When choosing tulips for cutting, it’s important to select varieties that have long, sturdy stems and blooms that will last in the vase The large “showy” tulips that work well in the landscape don’t always translate into good cut flowers Instead, you’ll want to grow types specifically bred for floral design.

To help you have the best tulip cutting garden ever, here are the top 10 tulip varieties that are absolute all-star performers as cut flowers:

1. Apricot Impression

This Darwin Hybrid type tulip lives up to its name, producing blooms in a soft, glowing apricot hue. While the blooms are single rather than double, the color is stunning and the stems grow impressively tall – up to 24-30 inches. ‘Apricot Impression’ is an early season bloomer, providing flowers for cutting in early spring.

2. Strong Gold

‘Strong Gold’ features golden yellow blooms on strong, 18-24 inch stems. This Darwin Hybrid tulip is another early bloomer, providing cheerful color when little else is flowering. The color is bold and vivid, a true yellow that pops in arrangements. An excellent cut flower with a long vase life of 7-10 days.

3. Foxtrot

This elegant double early tulip produces full, double blooms in a peachy apricot blend. The sturdy stems reach 16-18 inches tall. ‘Foxtrot’ looks beautiful paired with pink or purple tulips. An award-winning variety that has been a cut flower favorite for over 60 years.

4. Purple Prince

With deep purple cup-shaped flowers atop 22-24 inch stems, ‘Purple Prince’ is regal by name and by nature. This Single Late Tulip remains one of the top choices of tulip growers for its productivity and strong performance as a cut flower. The color is striking in both gardens and vase.

5. White Dream

Looking for the perfect white tulip for cutting or the vase? ‘White Dream’ is an excellent choice, with large double blooms of purest white. The 18 inch stems hold the blossoms elegantly aloft. Plant with blue muscari or forget-me-nots for a classy combination.

6. Amsterdam Queen

If red is your color, this Single Early Tulip is a real beauty. Grown commercially across the world for cut flowers, ‘Amsterdam Queen’ produces bright scarlet-red blooms on sturdy 16 inch stems. Masses of this variety create a spectacular red carpet of color.

7. Angelique

One of the most unique Parrot tulips, ‘Angelique’ sports gorgeous double peach-pink flowers with ruffled and twisted petals. The highly decorative blooms have an elegant, almost tropical look. The sturdy 24 inch stems work beautifully in vase arrangements. A real showstopper.

8. Black Parrot

For something a little different, try this stunning purple-black Parrot Tulip. The extra-large flowers have tightly twisted petals that form a striking star shape. The blooms are so dark they look almost black. The 20 inch stems support these heavy blooms well. Definitely a bold statement in bouquets.

9. Greenstar

Unlike most other tulips which bloom in April/May, ‘Greenstar’ blooms in early summer, extending the tulip season. The pointed white petals have a wide green stripe down the center and lime-green frilled edges. The chartreuse accents on the 20 inch stems are unique. An eye-catching flower that livens up summer arrangements.

10. Ballerina

If you’d like a tulip that naturalizes in the garden, ‘Ballerina’ is an excellent choice. The sweet orange blooms recur year after year. The 18 inch stems work great for cutting. ‘Ballerina’ reblooms in late spring and fall. A deer resistant variety that’s perfect for the perennial border.

When and How to Plant Tulips for Cut Flowers

To have tulips at their best for cutting, there are some special considerations when planting the bulbs:

Planting Time: Get tulip bulbs in the ground in the fall, at least 6-8 weeks before the ground freezes. This allows the roots to become established. The optimal planting window is usually late September to late November, depending on your climate.

Planting Location: Choose a spot that receives full sun – at least 6 hours per day. Tulips thrive in well-draining soil and will rot in heavy wet soils. If drainage is poor, build raised beds for your tulip patch.

Planting Depth: Plant bulbs 4-6 inches deep, measuring from the base of the bulb to the soil surface. This provides winter protection and anchoring. Deeper is better than too shallow.

Spacing for Cut Flowers: When growing for cut flowers, space bulbs 3-4 inches apart in rows 6-8 inches apart. The closer spacing produces longer, straighter stems, which is key for cutting.

Fertilizer: Mix some bulb fertilizer or compost into the soil at planting time. This gives bulbs an extra boost. Top dress with more fertilizer in early spring when growth resumes.

Watering: Water the bulbs well after planting. Then normal rainfall is sufficient unless you experience drought. Supply supplemental water during dry periods.

WINTER CARE: After the ground freezes, add a 4 inch layer of mulch, leaves, straw or evergreen boughs to insulate bulbs from alternating freezing and thawing. Remove in spring as growth starts.

How to Harvest and Care for Cut Tulips

To get the most enjoyment from your tulips as cut flowers, follow these simple steps for harvesting and post harvest care:

• Harvest stage: Cut tulips when the buds begin to color but BEFORE they open fully. Tulips will last longer in the vase if buds open slowly indoors verses opening fully on the plant outside.

• Cutting method: Use clean, sharp pruners or scissors. Cut the stem at an angle right above one of the lower leaves. Remove any leaves that would fall below the waterline in the vase.

• Post-harvest: Place freshly cut tulip stems immediately in clean, tepid water. Use a commercial flower food to prolong vase life. Change the water and recut stems every 2-3 days.

• Conditioning: For the best results, place cut tulip stems in a cool, dark place for 4-24 hours before arranging in a vase. This allows the stems to rehydrate.

• Arranging: Display cut tulips out of direct sunlight to make them last. Avoid placing cut tulips near ripening fruit, which emits ethylene gas that shortens flower life.

• Long term storage: Tulips can be held in a cool place for up to two weeks pre-opening. Store upright in buckets of water or horizontally wrapped in newspaper. Re-cut stems before final arranging.

Growing Tulips in Pots

Can you grow tulips in containers successfully? The answer is yes, with some special considerations:

• Use a high quality, well-draining potting mix, not garden soil which stays wet.

• Choose medium or small sized bulbs, which are recommended for containers. Larger bulbs may bloom poorly.

• Select sturdy, heavy pots at least 12-18 inches wide with drainage holes. This provides room for root growth.

• Plant 3-5 bulbs per pot, spacing evenly. Place bulbs with tips just below the soil surface.

• Move pots into an unheated garage or shed for winter chill. Keep compost lightly moist but not wet.

• After blooming, let pots dry out completely. Discard spent bulbs; they likely won’t bloom well again when container grown.

Storing Tulip Bulbs After Bloom Season

For tulips grown in garden beds and harvested for cut flowers, you’ll want to discard the bulbs after bloom season rather than try to store them. Here’s why:

• The bulbs have expended all stored energy into the removed blooms and stems. They have nothing left to grow foliage, which is needed to recharge via photosynthesis.

• Tulips grown specifically as cut flowers are usually less persistent, “self-cleaning” varieties that are not bred to be good perennials.

• Tulips don’t tend to thrive in climates with hot summers, wet winters, frequent freezing and thawing cycles, or overly damp soils. Most locations don’t provide ideal conditions.

• Even if some foliage remains, cut flower tulip bulbs rarely store well. They often rot or desiccate while dormant. It’s easiest just to discard and replant fresh bulbs each year.

• For the best cut flowers, you want to grow lots of tulips in a small space. This leads to crowding as bulbs multiply, which inhibits bloom and increases disease. Starting with new bulbs annually helps prevent this.

The exception is if you live in a location with an arid summer, winter chill, and very well-draining soil. In this case, it may be possible to dig up bulbs after the leaves yellow, dry and store them in a breathable bag or crate until fall planting time. But be prepared for losses.

How to Design Gorgeous Tulip Cut Flower Arrangements

Looking for inspiration to create showstopping tulip bouquets and arrangements? Here are some tips and tricks the pros use:

• Display tulips in vases and vessels of clear glass. This allows the beautiful flower shape and colors to shine.

• Mix early, mid and late season blooming tulip varieties together to extend the arranging season.

• Combine tulips with other spring flowers like daffodils, anemones, ranunculus, sweet peas, lilacs and lily of the valley

• Add forsythia, flowering quince or apple branches for a pop of color

• Weave complementary flower colors together in layers for an organic look

• Use tulips of a single color en masse for a bold monochromatic style

• Play with heights by cutting some stems short and leaving others long

• Add interest by including Parrot or Viridiflora green tulips

• Use two sided clear tape to secure heavy Parrot tulip blooms to stems

• Place votives or candles inside to highlight tulip arrangements at night

With this guide on selecting the best tulip varieties, proper bulb planting, harvest and care techniques, and gorgeous design ideas, your tulip cutting garden will provide an abundant source of floral beauty. Have fun crafting breathtaking tulip bouquets!

Frequency of Entities:
Apricot Impression: 2
Strong Gold: 1
Foxtrot: 2
Purple Prince: 1
White Dream: 1
Amsterdam Queen: 1
Angelique: 1
Black Parrot: 1
Greenstar: 1
Ballerina: 1
Darwin Hybrid: 1
Parrot: 3
Viridiflora: 1
Three Acre Farm: 3