This blend began as an idea: Let’s see if we can come up with a mix of lily-flowered tulips. The varieties were selected, acquired from the Netherlands, and then mixed and planted in the Colorblends trial garden.

Coming up with attractive and effective blends requires a lot of time and effort, trial and error. Experience tells us nine out of ten test blends will fail for one reason or another. Only the best of the best make it into the Colorblends product line. The ultimate goal here is very simple: Colorblends strives to ensure that you are happy with every selection you make.

These days, there are some bulb companies that mimic or say they can “recreate” selections offered by Colorblends. We have seen cases where these companies photograph Colorblends displays, give them new names, and introduce them in their catalogs or websites as their own. Some people would call this flattery. Others something much less flattering. But here is the problem. Copying is not that easy. With flowerbulbs, it can go very wrong.

When Colorblends shows a blend, you will get what you see in the picture. The varieties it contains were researched, seen, and selected in the Netherlands and then combined and tested in the USA. Why in the USA? Light intensity and spring temperatures are generally higher than they are in the far northern latitude and cooler climate of the Netherlands.

The blend performed very well in our trials, so we decided to list it. It was given a name (Freestyle™) and made available for sale in our catalog and at colorblends.com. Above is Freestyle™ in the 2025 Colorblends catalog.

Copying a blend without doing this legwork is fraught with compromise. Varieties can be fudged to give you a result that is not as pictured or promised. They may be shorter or taller than pictured. They may not bloom together. Or, the worst, the colors may not be those advertised. You pay for the bulbs and do all the work of planting, only to have a result in the spring that is, at best, lackluster. If you are a landscape professional, a poor display could mean an unhappy client.

There are no surprises with Colorblends. Developing, presenting, and delivering winning combinations is what Colorblends is all about. Our sincere appreciation for your support and patronage. We will continue to do our homework and present new ideas to you. Our advice is to go with the real thing. Plant Colorblends this fall.