Is Garden tulip hardy?

Hardy down to -40 °C (USDA zone 3, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Garden tulip toxic to children?

Yes, it is mildly toxic to children.

When does Garden tulip flower?

Flowering: April–May, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple.

How much water does Garden tulip need?

Water need: low. Drought tolerance: medium.

Garden tulip

Tulipa × gesneriana

Garden tulip (Tulipa × gesneriana) is a perennial. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -40 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats, mildly toxic to children.

Illustration of Garden tulip — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

The classic bulb of spring beds, in almost every colour except true blue, with single, double, fringed, lily-flowered and parrot forms, 20 to 75 cm tall. Plant the bulbs in autumn, from late September to November, in a sunny, free-draining spot at two to three times the height of the bulb, in groups. Most large-flowered hybrids bloom well for only a few years and then fade away: either top them up every few years, or lift the bulbs once the leaves have died down and store them dry over summer. For a lasting planting choose Darwin hybrids, which keep going years longer. After flowering snap off the seed head but leave the foliage until it yellows on its own. When choosing, look at flowering time (early, mid, late) and height, as these differ a lot between cultivar groups.

Watch out for

Voles and mice eat the bulbs, squirrels dig up freshly planted ones, and deer and rabbits graze the flowers; where voles are active, plant in wire mesh baskets. Tulip fire (Botrytis tulipae) causes twisted, spotted leaves with grey mould and rotting flowers in wet springs: remove affected plants with their bulbs and do not plant tulips in that spot for at least three years. Bulbs rot in heavy, waterlogged soil. Viruses that cause streaked petals are spread by aphids; discard infected plants. Most large-flowered cultivars produce only leaves after 2 to 4 years.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Low
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 50 cm × 15 cm
Hardiness: down to -40 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple

All details

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	50 cm × 15 cm
Ultimate size	20–75 cm × 10–20 cm
Hardiness	down to -40 °C (USDA 3, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple
Water need	Low
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	12 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic
Typical price	no data

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 17, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for full sun Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers

Guide on the topic

Planting tulips, daffodils and crocuses: when, how deep, how many Spring-flowering bulbs go in in autumn: daffodils, crocuses and hyacinths from September to October, tulips from October to November, until the ground freezes. A bulb goes two to three times its own height deep (tulips and daffodils about 12-15 cm, crocuses 8-10 cm), tip up, at least twice its width from the next. Between perennials, 20 small, 8 medium and 4 large bulbs per square metre are enough. After flowering, leave their leaves on for six weeks.

Looks good next to it

Black mondo grass

Ophiopogon planiscapus

Irish moss

Sagina subulata