Colorful, Show-Stopping Tulips

Jimmy Turner

Each year, Jimmy Turner and his staff plant almost half a million bulbs, primarily tulips, at the Dallas Arboretum. As senior director of gardens, Jimmy designs the annual tulip show (this year, March 5-April 10). Here are some of his favorite color combos to try in your yard.

Bulbs available in the fall through Brent and Becky's Bulbs.

Yellow & Red Tulips

Early-blooming double narcissus ‘Tahiti’ is joined by yellow double tulips ‘Monsella’ and ‘Monte Carlo’ in late March. A little later, fire engine red ‘Kingsblood’ tulips chime in to make it a four-color show.

Pink Tulips

Jimmy’s ode to everybody’s favorite color: pink! This trio offers three different shades: ‘Menton,’ in pale pink, ‘Dordogne’ in rose, and ‘Renown’ in deep rose.

White & Purple Tulips

The white ‘Clearwater’ tulip rises above a shorter ‘Purple Prince’ tulip to create a stacked effect.

Orange & Yellow Tulips

Orange ‘Perestroyka’ tulips can appear either orange or pink, depending on what you plant with them. Here they glow with the golden yellow of neighboring ‘Falconet’ narcissus.

Pink & Purple Tulips

Purple and pink—a classic spring combination. The pink blooms of ‘Ollioules’ float above deep purple ‘Negrita’ tulips.

Purple, Pink & Yellow Tulips

Prolific Panola ‘Lilac Shades’ pansies set the stage for the tulips and hyacinths. The lovely pink-and-white bicolor tulip ‘Beau Monde’ echoes the white hyacinth ‘Carnegie.’ The bright golden, pointed petals of tulip ‘Muscadet’ match the forsythia in the background.

Splendid Tulip Displays

• Dallas Arboretum, Dallas, Texas; early-March to early-April
• Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania; mid- to late-April
• Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, Missouri; early- to mid-April
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond, Virginia; early- to mid-April