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When most of us picture a tulip, we think of a beautiful single blossom coming off an individual, straight stalk out of a mass of leaves that all grow from one bulb.
But many gardeners don’t realize that there are overachieving tulip varieties that grow multiple blossoms from each bulb as well.
You know what that means, right? You can grow enough flowers to fill a vase from just one plant!
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Limited in terms of garden space, but you want a bunch of tulips? These offer the perfect solution. Just want more bang for your buck? Multiheaded aka bouquet tulips to the rescue.
We’re going to go over what these marvelous plants are and which varieties you should check out. Here’s what you can expect, coming up:
Multiheaded tulips are plants that form multiple flowers from a single bulb.
Depending on the cultivar, one bulb might produce up to seven blossoms. They’re sometimes called multi-flowering or bouquet tulips.
Instead of a single stem, these plants have a main stalk with multiple offshoots, each with its own blossom. And these flowers can be single or double.
Peony tulips.
Multi-headed tulips aren’t the same as double tulips.
Double and peony tulips have big, full blossoms with multiple layers of petals. Many of them do genuinely resemble peonies rather than tulips.
Single tulips are the traditional type that has a single layer of petals.
Multi-headed tulips generally bloom later in the spring than other types, usually in late May. The single late division is the most common type of multi-flower tulip.
And by the way, if you aren’t familiar with tulip divisions, now is a good time to learn. Our guide has all the details on the 15 different divisions.
Besides single late types, you can also commonly find Greigii types.
Some cultivars don’t produce buds that all bloom at the same time, while others do. Those that bloom separately put on a longer display than those that burst into flower all at once.
As you’d expect, the bulbs are much larger than typical tulip bulbs.
In terms of care, they should be treated as you would any other type. For tips on caring for your tulips, read our guide.
Now for the bad news. Multiheaded tulips are more difficult to find than other types and they tend to cost more. But don’t let that put you off – they’re worth it.
With over 3,000 Tulipa cultivars, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are many multi-flowering cultivars. Here are our top picks:
‘Antoinette’ puts on a dramatic show over several weeks. It starts out with light green and yellow blossoms before gradually transitioning to yellow with dark pink splotches.
Finally, as the petals mature, they turn deep salmon with a yellow base.
Each stem produces four or more blossoms on a 16-inch-tall plant. This is a single late type.
The single late ‘Aquila’ starts blooming in April with pastel yellow petals that have a bright red margin on the ends.
Each flower is semi-double, so you’ll have a large display with at least four blossoms emerging from individual offshoots on each stem. The plant is about 18 inches tall when mature.
‘Belicia’ is an incredibly striking double late type. The flowers are double and each petal is white with an extremely bright outline of reddish pink on each petal.
They don’t start that way, though. When they first emerge, the petals are yellow with a medium pink outline.
The plant itself is extremely large, growing to about 20 inches tall, and each one gives you at least five blossoms.
The petals on ‘Candy Club’ live up to their moniker, with candy pink splotches on the top half and creamy white on the lower half. It’s enough to tempt you to take a bite.
The main stem on this single late type produces at least four flowers and the plant grows to 20 inches tall.
The flowers on ‘Dream Club’ are ivory white blushed with bubblegum-pink streaks.
Each bulb produces three to five blossoms on a 20-inch tall plant.
‘Dream Club’
You can find packages of six bulbs available from Walmart.
This plant will have you feeling delirious with joy at its bold display. The flowers on this single late type are a bright, joyous red on a 20-inch-tall plant.
You can expect around four blossoms per bulb.
No, your garden isn’t on fire. Put your fire extinguisher away.
That’s just the flaming red and creamy yellow flowerheads of ‘Flaming Club’ nodding in the breeze.
With up to five blooms per bulb on a 20-inch-tall, single late type plant, your garden will be a conflagration of color.
True to its name, ‘Florette’ gives you a bevy of blossoms.
Up to 20 inches tall with bright orangish-red and yellow flowers, this single late type will make a cheerful addition to your garden.
‘Fusilier’ is so bright red and the petals are so delicately thin, it seems to glow from within.
The word “fusilier” references British troops who were armed with fusil muskets. If you’ve ever seen the classic “redcoat” uniform, then you know exactly what color these flowers are.
Enjoy up to five blossoms on each late division plant.
It should come as no surprise if you can’t help falling in love with this single late type tulip.
The petals are pale pink to the point that they are nearly white, with a fuchsia outline and up to five blooms on each 20-inch-tall plant.
‘Happy Family’ is a 20-inch-tall single late type with a melange of rosy pink blossoms that fade ever so slightly toward the tips.
You might have guessed from the name, but this one blooms all at once, so you can have a happy family of pretty posies.
All aboard! This merry-go-round isn’t populated with painted ponies but big, candy apple-red flowers that all burst forth at the same time.
A late division type, it reaches about 20 inches tall when mature. When these flowers twirl in the breeze, it’s enough to convince you that the carnival has arrived.
You will be filled with anticipation waiting to see what happens when this night club opens.
Mild-mannered by day, the flowers are a lush pink on the outside.
But as the late division blossoms mature and the petals open up fully, you catch a glimpse of the interior, which is a vibrant violet.
And you don’t even have to convince a bouncer to let you in.
Expect to see at least three blossoms per bulb.
Whoever named this cultivar knew exactly what they were doing. This 20-inch-tall plant produces up to seven blossoms so you can have a full bouquet with just one.
And, yes, the blossoms on this late division flower are magenta purple.
Elegant is the right description for this late blooming type. Each flower – up to five per plant – looks like a purple sapphire that has been laced in white trim.
‘Purple Elegance’
To bring some elegance to your space, you can find ‘Purple Elegance’ available from Hirt’s Gardens via Walmart.
Never been in the presence of royalty before? Allow me to present to you ‘Royal Georgette.’
The elegantly pointed and arching petals on this plant are bright yellow edged in watercolor splotches of red.
Another late division tulip, it grows 20 inches tall.
‘Toronto’ stays smaller than many other multiheaded varieties at just 14 inches tall.
Each plant produces up to five flowers, bold salmon pink blossoms with a dark fuchsia patch down the center.
The petals are exceptionally pointed and thin, giving this late division type a unique look.
To be totally honest, I’m happy when just one tulip graces my garden. But I don’t feel bad, not one bit, to be a little greedy and revel in a bevy of them.
I mean, why settle for a single, solitary tulip when you can have a whole bouquet?
I have no doubt you’ll be able to find the right option for your garden on this list, and I’d love it if you let us know which one will be gracing your space. Sound off in the comments section below!
If you’d like a little variety in your springtime flower garden, you might be interested in learning about raising some other classic options as well, such as:
