Written by Sarah Jay Last updated: March 9, 2026 | 3 min read

Heirloom tulips are some of my favorite tulip types. These blooms pop up in spring and really set off the garden while other plants are putting on new leaves. As the rest of the garden forms buds that flower later in the season, tulips give it a boost and pops of color that make the garden shine. Deadhead them, and watch them rebloom!

Many of the heirlooms we’re used to seeing have a virus called the tulip break virus. Through a process of bulb grafting, the virus spread to healthy bulbs, creating some of the awesome patterns we see on the most beloved heirlooms. What results is a completely random striping that creates a striking pattern.

While the effect of the virus is aesthetically pleasing, it can pass on to other tulips. So, if you are planting these, make sure to keep them separate from other tulips and also lilies, in a separate bed where you won’t plant other tulips or lilies, or in a container. In certain varieties, the virus causes smaller blooms, along with streaking that can change the look of your preferred tulips. 

Tulipa ‘Absalon’

If you can’t find ‘Absalon’, look instead for ‘Royal Sovereign’.

This tulip hails from the 18th century and has been preserved by the Dutch association, Hortus Bulborum, since then. It’s a brown and yellow tulip, and a truly broken one as it’s called in the horticultural trade. The effect is similar to swirling flames. 

Brown is a rare color for tulips in general, and those with this chocolate-colored and golden look are known as Bizarres. If you can’t find ‘Absalon’, look instead for ‘Royal Sovereign’, which has the same coloring in a more varied patterning. 

Tulipa ‘Columbine’

The white stripe adds interesting contrast.

Tulipa ‘Archeron’

This tall tulip stands out in the garden.

Enough of these broken tulips! Let’s discuss the heirloom solids, like ‘Archeron’, which has a traditional shape with solid garnet-red petals. This is another modern from 1913, reclaimed from the Hortus Bulborum by Scott Kunst, the founder of the premier distributor of heirloom tulips, Old House Gardens.

This one is a little taller than the others, reaching up to two feet. Plant it where you need a unified aesthetic that carries a red color palette that occurs at a slightly higher dimension. This one is a total beauty.  

Tulipa ‘Bridesmaid’

Plant several containers for a spring display.

For a thinner form than other heirloom tulips, with a maroon and white coloring, look for ‘Bridesmaid’. This one was brought to the fore in the early 19th century by the Dutch tulip bulb house, Krelage and Sons. It was praised by the famous Peter Henderson florists and seedmen’s catalog in 1907. 

This is another truly broken tulip, which should be planted away from non-broken varieties and lilies, too. Pop it in containers where its restrained presence can be truly showcased, or plant it alone in garden beds.  

Tulipa ‘Black and White’

The deep purple looks almost black in certain lighting.

Streaked white, eggplant, and almost black is what ‘Black and White’ brings to your garden. This broken heirloom has unclear origins, but was sourced from the Hortus Bulborum along with many others on this list. Like ‘Bridesmaid’, it has a more slender form than most heirloom tulips. 

Don’t confuse this one with a ‘Black and White Blend’, which is a lovely mix of the darkest purple and white tulip bulbs. These are lovely on their own, but they’re not heirlooms like this one. As it opens, it fans outward, offering a more common form. 

Tulipa ‘Elegans Rubra’

The petals have a unique shape.

The origins of ‘Elegans Rubra’ are uncertain, but it may have been reclaimed in the early 1700s from the wild species Tulipa acuminata. The characteristic this tulip provides is branching, dagger-tipped petals, and bright red coloration. The flower base is a light golden-yellow. 

‘Elegans Rubra’ has a lily-shaped flower and adds tons of interest wherever it’s planted. Since it’s not broken, you can plant it among other tulips and lilies without infecting them with the breaking virus. There are rumors that this one came from the Ottoman Empire, which would make it a great addition to a garden with historic flair. 

Tulipa ‘Couleur Cardinal’

The deep red adds rich hues to beds or containers.

Our final entry is among the very traditional, standard-looking heirloom tulips. The petals of ‘Couleur Cardinal’ are bright, deep red with a slightly maroon blush around their base. In some areas, they take on a slightly ruffled edge. It was first introduced in 1845. 

This single early variety is great for bedding or forcing indoors in late winter. The stems are strong and handle spring’s early storms with ease. If you live in a region with heavy spring rains, plant this one! You don’t have to worry about spreading any viruses either, as it’s unbroken.