Choosing the Perfect Pink Tulip for Your Flower Beds - A Guide to Pink Tulip Varieties

Tulips are one of the most popular Spring to early Summer blooms due to their hardiness and the ease at which they are planted and harvested. Tulips are a perfect flower for so many occasions and are as beautiful in a cut arrangement as they are in the garden.  For those who love pink tulip flowers, they offer an especially sophisticated palette of color choices from the palest pastel to more vibrant fuchsias. Tulips are referred to by two different categories.  Tulip varieties found in nature are called “species” tulips. Those that have been hybridized are called “garden” tulips. There are approximately 100 different species of pink tulips and thousands of “garden” variety pink tulips. Additionally, tulips are also categorized into divisions, outlined below.  As you look for the perfect of variety of pink tulip to plant in your garden or to order for your next event, consider looking for some of the following popular varieties in each category.

· Single early tulips are just as they sound. They have a hardy stem and simple shape with rounded petals that form a cup, sometimes flattening out toward the end of their bloom cycle or in the full sun. These tulips flower in mid spring and grow 10 to 24 (25-60cm) inches high. Popular varieties include ‘Apricot Beauty’ (apricot pink) and ‘Christmas Marvel’ (deep pink).

· Double early tulips have larger, double-flowered heads that are sometimes likened to a peony. The double tulips are heavier on their stems and prefer a sheltered planting site. They flower in mid spring and are long lasting. These flowers generally reach 10 to 12 inches (25-30cm) in height. Popular varieties include 'Peach Blossom'(rose pink) and
'Queen of Marvel'(pinkish red).

· Triumph tulips have large, pointier petals that bloom in mid spring, earning the name “mid-season tulips” in some gardening circles and bulb catalogs. They grow 16-24 inches (40-60cm) high. Popular pink varieties include ‘Anna Jose’ (pink), ‘Peerless Pink’ (tender pink),'Garden Party' (white and carmine-pink), and 'Kees Nellis' (pink and yellow).

· Darwin hybrids flower in late spring and are known for their large, round petals and saturated bloom colors, which make them ideal for decorating or as a garden focal point. They grow to 22-28 inches (55-70cm) high on strong stems. Popular hybrids include ‘Pink Impression’ (pink), 'Big Chief' (pink with white), 'Elizabeth Arden' (salmon pink).

·         Single late tulips flower in late spring and have egg shaped flowers. They grow to 26-32inches (65-80cm) high. Popular varieties include ‘Pink Diamond’ (tender pink), and 'Queen of Bartigons' (salmon-pink).

·         Lily-flowered tulips are unique with their longer, pointed petals on single blooms. They flower in late spring often growing to 20-26in (50-65cm) high. Favorite varieties include ‘Pink Lady’ (pink), 'China Pink' (soft pink), and Marietta (salmon pink).

·         Fringed tulips have a similar bloom arrangement to those of the Single late group but with softer, lacier petals flowering in late spring. They grow about 22-32 inches (55-80cm) high. ‘Fancy Frills’ (pink and cream) is a beautiful specimen.

·         Viridiflora is a unique tulip category because the petals on each bloom are partially green. Blooms are similar to the Single late tulips and also appear in late spring. They grow 9-24inches (23-60cm) high. Popular varieties include 'Artist' (apricot-pink and green), and 'Greenland' (green-edged rose).

·         Rembrandt tulips have large single flowers with petals that feature streaks of a second color. The broken colors in original Rembrandt tulips were caused by a plant virus, making them illegal to sell, but Dutch "look-a-like" varieties are available. These spectacular flowers appear in late spring and they grow 18-30 inches (45-75cm) high. ‘Sorbet’ (white with raspberry streaks) looks wonderful with an all-pink theme.

·         Parrot tulips have large, lacy flowers, often with twisted petals. These large blooms flower in mid and late spring and grow to 20-26inches (50-65cm) high. Their stems may be weak compared to the size of the bloom.  A favorite cultivar is the 'Fantasy' (pink).

·         Double late tulips feature robust, showy flowers, resembling peonies and flowering in late spring. The plants grow 16-24 inches (40-60cm) high. 'Angelique' (pale pink) is a popular specimen.

·         Kaufmanniana hybrid tulips are also called Waterlily tulips because of their long, graceful flowers. These early spring blooms grow to 4-10in (10-25cm) high and are ideal for container gardens. ‘Heart’s Delight is a beautiful red and pink flower.

·         Fosteriana hybrids show off their glorious, pops of color in mid spring.  These plants have large, long flowers on stems that grow 8-16 inches (20-40cm) high. A popular cultivar is ‘Pink Emperor’(pink).

·         Greigii hybrids capture attention with their interesting maroon veining or spotted foliage with flowers blooming in early to mid spring. They grow 9-20in (23-50cm) high and look best in rockeries and containers. Beautiful pink varieties include Oratorio'(magenta-pink flower with spotted foliage) and 'Ali Baba'(deep pink flower with spotted foliage).

·         Species tulips tend to be smaller and more delicate in form than the garden tulips, as their original traits have not been tampered with. Some prefer the purity and heritage of these flowers. The ‘Little Beauty’ is a fantastic pink specimen tulip with a blue center.