Tulips – the RHS People’s Choice winners

Working with leading UK bulb suppliers and expert growers from the Netherlands – the historic heartland of tulip cultivation – the 2025 Tulipa (tulip) trial brought together an impressive display of 80 distinct selections at RHS Garden Wisley, Surrey.

The vibrant collection showcased double late, parrot, and coronet tulips, with a particular focus on form and flair. Among the entries were 43 double late tulips (some of which were fringed), 30 parrot tulips, and seven of the increasingly popular coronet tulips – all grown from carefully selected bulbs

These are fleshy, rounded, underground storage organs, usually sold and planted while dormant. Examples include daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, lilies, onions and garlic. The term is often used to cover other underground storage organs, including corms, tubers and rhizomes.

representing the finest examples of their kind.

Tulipa double late, parrot and coronet trial results

"It was wonderful to see so many visitors enjoying the range of tulips on display and undertaking the difficult task of selecting their top pick. The colourful and dramatic display made it hard to choose just one."

Karen Leonard, Trials Project Leader

RHS People’s Choice Winners

The RHS People’s Choice ran in April 2025, with a total of 304 visitor votes counted. From lush double late tulips to flamboyant parrot varieties and the sculptural elegance of coronet tulips, each type brought its own charm to the spring trial.

First place

Tulipa ‘Campbell’ (registered as Tulipa ‘Campball’)

An elegant tulip with slim, upright stems and lush, healthy foliage. Its vibrant, tufted blooms boast a striking shape and vivid colour, making it truly stand out. A unique variety – this lily double tulip brings an exotic flair to any garden.

Voters’ comments included: Interesting new shape and nice springtime colour.

Second place

Tulipa ‘Crème Upstar’

This perennial tulip features broad, lance-shaped green leaves and produces lush, peony-like double blooms in late spring. Its petals display a delicate blend of cream, rose pink, and primrose yellow.

Voters’ comments included: Delicate and beautiful colour in a classic shape.

Third place

Tulipa ‘Sun Lover’

This tulip bears double, cup-shaped blooms in late spring, emerging in golden yellow with striking red-orange striations. As the flowers mature, they deepen through shades of orange, eventually reaching a rich orange-red hue.

Voters’ comments included: Uplifting and inspires joy and happiness.

What visitors loved

Colour was by far the most celebrated feature in the 2025 tulip trial, with voters consistently drawn to bold, unusual shades and striking combinations. Rich purples, fiery oranges, soft pastels and dramatic multi-tones featured heavily in the visitor comments. Many described the colours as uplifting, elegant or emotionally resonant, with some linking specific blooms to memories, artworks or even volcanic glass.

Alongside colour, visitors praised strong shapes and sturdy structure. Full, peony-like forms were especially popular, as were tulips with frilled or spiky petals that added texture and flair. Upright stems, uniform flowering and good height also stood out as desirable traits. Crucially, the most admired tulips managed to feel both unique and distinctly tulip-like – blending novelty with familiarity in a way that clearly resonated with voters.

Tulips with different shaped flowers