9 variegated tulips
for an elegantly flowered garden
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As the beautiful days return, spring bulbs begin to bloom, bringing splashes of colour throughout their flowering for our utmost delight. Among these flowers, tulips hold a special place thanks to the variety of their colours, shapes, and sizes. Easy to grow and low-maintenance, they should be planted in the sun in well-drained soil. We invite you to discover a selection of variegated foliage tulips, which will allow you to create an original and elegant garden or balcony.
The botanical tulip praestans 'Unicum', with cream-white marginate foliage.
The botanical tulip praestans ‘Unicum’ offers a lovely contrast between the bright red of its corollas of flowers, a yellow and black centre, as well as bright green foliage variegated with cream white. It blooms in April, producing 2 to 4 flowers per stem on broad leaves, marginate with white, featuring streaks of the same colour that may appear.
Standing at 35 cm tall, it is easy to grow in a garden or in a pot on a balcony. Once established, botanical tulips can bloom for several years. They brighten up borders and rockeries alongside other bulbous flowers, such as snowdrops, crocuses, muscari, cyclamen, or scilla.
Botanical tulip praestans ‘Unicum’ (photo Sönke Haas – FlickR)
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Tulips: planting, growing and careThe botanical tulip Greigii 'Corsage', with marbled purple foliage
In terms of variegated foliage, green and white are not the only possible colours. There are also tulips with original purple-striped leaves. This is the case with the botanical tulip greigii ‘Corsage’ which is adorned with grey-green foliage marbled with purple and edged in pink. In April, it produces flowers in shades of old rose to orange, bordered with yellow.
With its vibrant colours and unique foliage, this tulip easily fits into exotic floral scenes, alongside cannas, castor beans, and palms. At a height of 25 cm, this dwarf tulip can be planted in borders, at the front of beds, or in pots.
Botanical tulip greigii ‘Corsage’
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The late double tulip 'Carnaval de Nice', with white-edged foliage
Tulips can, in addition to variegated foliage, bear bicoloured flowers. This is the case with the double late tulip ‘Carnaval de Nice’, which features white flowers striated with dark red on medium green foliage finely edged in white. Its round, large flowers are double and resemble peonies, making it a highly valued variety in the garden or in bouquets.
They appear late in May and measure 8 cm. This tulip reaches a height of 45 cm and elegantly fits into sunny borders and pots. It can be accompanied by other tulips with different shapes and similar shades.
Double late tulip ‘Carnaval de Nice’
The 'Silver Parrot' parrot tulip features blue-green foliage edged with cream.
Another tulip with bicoloured flowers, the ‘Silver Parrot’ parrot tulip features original pink and silver-white flowers with astonishing fringed and twisted petals at the edges. It blooms in May on bluish-green foliage marginate with cream. The flowers are impressive, measuring 15 cm. They are a soft pink on the outside, showcasing a deeper pink at their heart.
Reaching a height of 60 cm, the stem is sturdy, allowing for beautiful flowering clusters, as well as lovely cut flowers for a bouquet. In a garden, pair them with late double tulips in similar shades of pink and white.
‘Silver Parrot’ parrot tulip
The simple Greigii tulip 'Plaisir', with brown-spotted foliage
The single Greigii tulip ‘Plaisir’ is a dwarf plant, reaching 20 cm in height, that blooms as early as March. Its red flowers are flamed with white and bring an elegant and colourful touch to the garden or terrace as soon as the fine weather arrives. The foliage is quite broad, a rich green with brown spots.
Drought-resistant and robust, they are relatively undemanding. In a border, you can pair them with snowdrops, muscari, and cyclamen.
Single Greigii tulip ‘Plaisir’ (Credit Ibulb)
Fosteriana tulip 'Juan', with strongly marbled purple foliage
Let’s continue with bicoloured flowers featuring Fosteriana tulip ‘Juan Orange’. It has the unique characteristic of displaying dark green foliage heavily marbled with purple. In March and April, bright orange flowers adorned with yellow macules at the base appear. They open like large, flared cups, with a width of up to 18 cm. Their vibrant colours provide beautiful contrasts against the darker leaves.
Easy to grow, it reaches a height of 40 cm and can be planted in beds or borders. You can plant it alongside a banana tree and castor beans for a lush effect. It also makes excellent cut flowers.
Fosteriana tulip ‘Juan’
Fosteriana tulip 'Purissima Design', a stylish variegated green and white.
The Fosteriana tulip ‘Purissima Design’ is highly elegant, thanks to the harmony of its colours. Its large cream-white flowers turn to pure white and complement the green foliage, which is also edged in cream-white. It blooms in March and April, offering light fragrances. The flowers open into a corolla that can measure up to 18 cm in diameter.
This tulip reaches 45 cm and makes excellent cut flowers. In a border, play on the elegance of green combined with white by adding flowers in similar tones, such as daffodils.
Fosteriana tulip ‘Purissima Design’
The Triumph tulip 'Pretty Princess', with white-edged foliage
The Triumph tulip ‘Pretty Princess’ blooms mid-season, from April to May. At a height of 30 cm, it produces narrow corolla flowers, with pink petals edged in purple flames on green foliage bordered in white. Its soft colours give it originality and elegance.
Thanks to its sturdy stems, you can plant it in a border or use it in a vase. It pairs well with other white tulips such as the Triumph tulip ‘Rejoyce’.
Triumph tulip ‘Pretty Princess’
The Darwin hybrid tulip 'Jaap Groot', featuring blue-green foliage edged in white.
The Darwin hybrid tulip ‘Jaap Groot’ brings a touch of freshness to a flower bed. At a height of 55 cm, it produces cream-white flowers flamed with yellow from the base during the months of April to May. Its blue-green foliage is marginate with white. It features sturdy stems that are resistant to rain, which is why this group of tulips is the most commonly used for cut flowers.
You can pair it in a bed with other spring-flowering bulbs in yellow and white, such as daffodils and jonquils.
Darwin hybrid tulip ‘Jaap Groot’
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