Perennial Tulips

Most tulips are at their best the first spring after planting. In subsequent springs, although the foliage returns, flowering is often sporadic. To ensure a lavish display every year, many gardeners treat tulips as annuals: They dig and discard the bulbs after bloom and replant fresh bulbs in the fall. The effort and expense is repaid many times over by a spring show that no other plant can match.

That said, there are some tulips that are willing (though not guaranteed) to put on a good display for more than one year. They include the big, bold Darwin Hybrids and the charming little wild, or species, tulips. Under ideal conditions, these bulbs (see below) can flower well for two or three seasons - sometimes more.

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