The Royal Horticultural Society, a trusted source of plant advice for all gardeners, has conducted further tulip trials at RHS Wisley on double late, parrot and coronet cultivars to identify the best. A panel of experts judged the trial, which assessed the performance of new cultivars alongside older garden favourites to select stand outs that received the RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit.
This accolade helps gardeners to choose plants that are reliable and perform well in home gardens. In order to receive the RHS Recommended: AGM, plants must be easy to grow and reliable, readily available to buy in garden centres or online, healthy and robust and resistant to common pests and diseases.
The trial included 80 selections of tulip, with bulbs sourced from UK suppliers. 43 double late tulips, often compared to peonies for their lush and full petals, were assessed alongside 30 parrot tulips, known for flamboyant petals and exotic flair. Seven coronet tulips, a newer type with petals that curl inward to form a crown-like shape, were also judged.
The judges awarded nineteen new cultivars with an RHS Recommended: AGM.
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The latest tulips recommended by experts
Tulipa ‘Amazing Grace’
A bulbous perennial tulip with mid-green leaves. Peony-like flowers with layers of lavender-pink petals with a splash of green, turn to dark rose-pink as they mature, appearing from mid to late April.
Judges comments: Rich, deep rose bloom with satin sheen and dark stems. Well-proportioned and great stature. Has a long flowering period and fades beautifully. Main flowers big and double, with smaller but neat secondary flowers.
Average height: 35cm
Tulipa ‘Amazing Parrot’
A perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped green leaves with wavy edges. This Parrot Group tulip has cup-shaped flowers, with heavily fringed, rose pink petals with a narrow orange margin and orange insides. Flowers are produced in late spring
Judges comments: Dramatic blend of rhubarb and custard colours. Uniform flowers with beautifully serrated edges. Strong thick stems make it weather resistant. Good in floristry and design
Average height: 40cm
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Tulipa ‘Black Hero’
A perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped green leaves. Double, peony-like glossy, dark reddish-purple flowers appear in late spring.
Judges comments: Tall, double flowers stand proud. Good bud shape. A lot of secondaries, providing a lower level of flowers below the foliage, giving a 3D look. Would make a good effect in the border. Consistent, with tidy foliage.
Average height: 60cm
Tulipa ‘Cabanna’
A bulbous perennial with green foliage. Large, frilly-edged creamy-white flowers flushed with green and pale pink which darken to bright fuchsia, appear in April to May.
Judges comments: Cream and raspberry ripple petals that hold well in windy weather. Strong upright stems. Dies well, dropping its petals cleanly before they go brown. Early flowering.
Average height: 50cm
Tulipa ‘Campbell’ (registered as Tulipa ‘Campball’)
A double blooming tulip that flowers in mid to late spring. Its lush, layered petals in sharp flame-red tones create a dramatic display, especially when planted in groups. Perfect for garden beds, borders, or containers, this variety adds a splash of warmth and movement to any landscape.
Judges comments: Exotic looking, vibrant tufted flowers with lovely colour and shape. A slim and elegant tulip with straight stems and strong, healthy foliage. Stands tall. Unique in its appearance as a lily double tulip.
Average height: 60cm
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Tulipa ‘Caribbean Parrot’
A bulbous perennial with green foliage and large yellow flowers with orange-red frilly edges which appear mid to late spring.
Judges comments: Flowers change colour as they age: opening as lemon yellow with a distinct orange-red edge, they develop a red blush before maturing to a softer cream and pink. Even heights, with strong, straight stems. Weather resistant. Opens neat and uniform for parrot
Average height: 55cm
Tulipa ‘Canyon’
A perennial bulb with broadly strap-shaped grey-green foliage. Peony-shaped, double, shimmery dark maroon-purple flowers appear from March to May.
Judges comments: Beautiful, glossy, deep-burgundy colour, maturing to rich grape with a white centre. Every stage looked good. Sturdy and weather resistant. Some bulbs had two flower stems. Grey-green foliage. Long flowering period.
Average height: 50cm
Tulipa ‘Crown of Dynasty’
A perennial bulb with light green, lance-shaped foliage. Tall stems of crown-shaped flowers in shades of pink, with a cream base, appear April to May.
Judges comments: Flowers like seashells, held well above the foliage. Good colour. Holds its petals well and has a long flowering season.
Average height: 50cm
Tulipa ‘Dee Jay Parrot’
A bulbous perennial with pale green foliage. Sturdy stems of large, red and gold flowers with frilly edges, appear in April to May.
Judges comments: Powerful display. Big dramatic flowers from excellent buds. Flowers open flat and wide but hold their petals. Weather resistant. Attractive dark stem colour
Average height: 50cm
Tulipa ‘Flaming Parrot’
A perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped green leaves. This Parrot Group tulip has cup-shaped flowers, with fringed petals that open golden yellow and fade to white, with deep red midribs and streaks. Flowers are produced in late spring.
Judges comments: Yellow petals striped with bold red lines with flushes of yellow and cream. Dramatic colour change as the yellow fades to white. Contrasting dark stems
Average height: 50cm
Tulipa ‘Lilac Perfection’
A perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped green leaves. Double, peony-like rich, lilac-puple flowers appear in late spring.
Judges comments: The flowers make a great combination with the foliage. Beautiful buds. Some multistems and secondaries. Beautiful and vigorous.
Average height: 50cm
Tulipa ‘Red Dress’
A perennial bulb with single crown-shaped, rich red flowers, displaying very distinctive wavy, curled and folded petals, and flowering over a long period from mid to late spring.
Judges comments: Gorgeous flower with velvety ruby-colour petals. Healthy foliage, consistent growth and height. Beautiful, with great form. Generous blooms, luxurious and opulent.
Average height: 45–55cm
Tulipa ‘Rasta Parrot’
A perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped green leaves. Cup-shaped flowers, with lighty fringed petals in vibrant shades of pink, purple, orange, yellow and green, appear in late spring.
Judges comments: Wonderful and striking. A story of changing colours. Upright, even and consistent. Healthy. Short stems and great form. Greyish foliage. Still interesting even when going over.
Average height: 40cm
Tulipa ‘Rococo'
'Rococo' is a parrot cultivar with puckered, thick tepals that are rich red with green feathering and a hint of yellow. Flowers in late spring.
Judges comments: Lovely. Red with flashes of gold and holds its colour well. Good in bud. Short, upright, strong stems and even.
Average height: 45cm
Tulipa ‘Seadov Parrot’
A bulbous perennial with strap-shaped green leaves. Stunning serrated flowers appear in April to May and are green at the base, turning into crimson red through the remainder of the petals.
Judges comments: Deep crimson parrot. Outer petals have dark reverse with inky centre. Holds its colour well. Even and consistent. Stands up well. Attractive wavy foliage and good proportions. Good shorter garden tulip.
Average height: 45cm
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Tulipa ‘Shirley Double’
A bulbous perennial with grey-green foliage. Double white flowers are edged with purple that spreads further over the petals as the flower matures and appear in April to May.
Judges comments: Double flowers from early spring in romantic shades of creamy white and lilac maturing to white and purple. Stands up tall, with long dark stems. Some have double stems. Weather resistant
Average height: 60cm
Tulipa ‘Silver Parrot’
A perennial bulb with broadly lance-shaped, grey-green leaves edged with creamy white. Flowers are white, with ruffled petals feathered with deep pink at the edges.
Judges comments: Decorative silver leaf margin. Would show up well in the garden. Stands proud and upright and has good presence. Plump white buds streaked with green.
Average height: 40cm
Tulipa ‘Vogue’ (registered as Tulipa ‘Voque’)
A bulbous perennial with broadly strap-like green foliage. Peony-like, warm pink, fully double flowers with ruffled petals finely dusted and tipped with palest pink, appear in April to May.
Judges comments: Beautiful, silvery, antique-pink double flowers. The long-lasting blooms are even and consistent. Strong dark stems and greyish foliage. Weather resistant.
Average height: 40cm
Tulipa ‘White Libestar’
A perennial bulb with broadly strap-like grey-green leaves. Unusually shaped white flowers, the petals being concave before flaring at the tips appear from mid to late spring.
Judges comments: Uniform and elegant. Strong, clean white colour and neat flower shape. Straight and tall with a lovely dark flush to the stems. Long flowering season.
Average height: 50cm
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