A celebration of tulips at RHS Wisley
Thousands of tulips bring a spectacular burst of spring colour to our Surrey garden
It’s the hit of spring you’ve been waiting for! More than 100,000 tulips are waiting to wow you at RHS Garden Wisley in a beautiful springtime spectacle.
Bursting into bloom from late March and flowering through April, the brand-new displays transform one of RHS Wisley’s most iconic views, the historic Old Laboratory building and Jellicoe Canal.
Celebrating the joyous spring beauty of tulips, the vibrant mass plantings and pot displays feature 58 gorgeous different tulip cultivars combined in mesmerising colour effects.
A celebration of tulips on the banks of the Jellicoe canal at RHS Garden Wisley
Festival of colour
Most of the cultivars in this display are Triumph tulips, valued for their sturdy upright stems, pleasing cup-shaped flowers and wonderful colour range. There are also double-flowered cultivars to spot, such as dreamy, rose pink Tulipa ‘Foxtrot’ and sulphur yellow T. ‘Monte Carlo’, both with ruffled blooms more reminiscent of peony flowers.
Vibrant tulips in a rainbow of hues carpet the lawns of the Jellicoe Canal
Hello sunshine
Among the earliest and biggest tulips to bloom, Fosteriana tulips, also known as Emperor tulips, are as regal as their name suggests. They boast exceptionally large flowers on tall stems, which open up in the spring sunshine becoming even more impressive. In this mix, look out for Tulipa ‘Orange Emperor’ – its glowing tangerine blooms are sure to catch your eye.
Fosteriana tulips basking in the sun in front of the Laboratory
Confetti petals
After the exuberance of the Jellicoe Canal landscape, the Sunken Lawn display offers some respite, with a blend of cooler whites and softer yellows. Splashes of stronger colour come from Tulipa ‘Carnaval de Rio’, with its white petals streaked with candy red, and striking yellow and maroon two-toned T. ‘Gavota’.
Around the Sundial Lawn, discover a wonderful palette of white and pink cultivars, from pure white Tulipa ‘Royal Virgin’ to marshmallow pink T. ‘Synaeda Amor’ and half and half T. ‘Dynasty’.
Softer white and pink tulips feature in the Sunken Lawn display
Cottage charm
In the Cottage Garden, you’ll find the graceful, refined silhouettes of lily-flowered tulips nestled in among the classic and reliable simplicity of Triumph forms. Tulipa ‘Neper’ and T. ‘Danceline’ bring soft pinks and whites, while T. ‘Continental’ adds a punchy contrast with purple-black petals and glaucous foliage – the effect is quite breathtaking.
Tulips in the Cottage Garden
Tulip trial
Head to the Trials Garden to discover a further 92 tulip cultivars being assessed in an RHS Plant Trial. A selection of Darwin hybrid, viridiflora and late single tulips, including new cultivars and well-known favourites, are being grown side-by-side to judge their performance. Those that perform best will be awarded the prestigious RHS Recommended: Award of Garden Merit. Don’t miss the chance to vote for your favourite in the People’s Choice poll.
RHS Plant Trial of double late, parrot and coronet tulips in 2025
