20 Different Yellow Tulip Varieties to Brighten Your Flowerbeds (2024)

As the color we associate most often with the sun, yellow has come to symbolize happiness, positivity, and energy in contemporary decor. Paint the baby’s room lemon yellow, and she’ll be creative and cheerful, we’re told. Accent the kitchen with sunflower tones, and you’ll be more optimistic.

The same holds true for garden design. A cluster of yellow flag irises by the back door will lift your mood each time you go out, a pot of marigolds on the patio will put a smile on your face each time you sit, and a scattering of black-eyed Susans will keep the yard warm long into fall. These things we know for sure.

So it’s no wonder many of us reach for yellow when we’re exploring tulip varieties for our spring gardens. A mass of yellow tulips waving in the front yard is a joyous wake-up call after the long, gray winter and a clarion of sunny days to come.

But with dozens of yellow tulip varieties to choose from, it can be difficult to pick which tulips to grow in your flowerbeds. With that in mind, we’ve gathered photos and plant characteristics for 20 of our favorite yellow tulip cultivars and put it all together for your consideration.

‘Golden Charm’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Golden Charm’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 3-4 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Low spreading and small in stature at 3-4 inches high, ‘Golden Charm’ is often mistaken for a crocus in the spring garden. This unique bi-color tulip has pointed, star-shaped yellow petals rimmed with creamy white and prominent yellow anthers.

Foliage is thin, speckled, and sprawling in nature. This cultivar naturalizes easily for a groundcover like effect. Use it beneath trees or in locations with uneven ground where it has some room to roam.

‘Sun Gold’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Sun Gold’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 18-24 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

With a classic egg-shaped bloom and long, strong legs, ‘Sun Gold’ is a Triumph category tulip with classic appeal. Petals are oval and sunny yellow atop olive green stems and foliage striped with burgundy.

Plant Sun Gold with white snowdrop or crocus bulbs for a soft, romantic effect. Or pair it with grape hyacinth for a bold, invigorating color scheme.

‘Monte Carlo’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Monte Carlo’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 8-12 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Lemon yellow blooms on this cheerful, Double Early tulip are full and peony-shaped. Petals are slightly scalloped and tightly packed. Foliage is true green, very thin, and short in stature.

‘Monte Carlo’ has a light, pleasant fragrance, so it’s often planted along walkways and near entryways. Work it into the cutting garden or force bulbs into early bloom and you can enjoy the scent indoors as well.

‘Yellow Margarita’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Yellow Margarita’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 14-16 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

This Double Early tulip has dense, peony-style blooms that average about 3 inches in width. Its tightly packed, canary yellow petals are scalloped and fringy with red and green feathering for a nice bicolor effect.

Foliage is modest in height at 14-16 inches, but stems are strong enough to hold heavy blooms upright even in strong winds. Pack ‘Yellow Margarita’ bulbs tightly together in a container or a small pot for a dash of tropical style on the front porch. You can also plant them front and/or center in a mixed spring border.

‘Big Smile’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Big Smile’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 24-26 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Simple and elegant with a classic egg shape and slender petals the color of egg yolks, ‘Big Smile’ is a Single Late tulip that dazzles in late April or early May. Stems are extra long at around 2 feet but strong enough to sway in the breeze without breakage.

Foliage is narrow and olive green, providing a nice soft bed beneath Big Smile’s gorgeous blooms. Plant this cultivar in a large group for a cheerful mass of yellow.

‘Gold Fever’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Gold Fever’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 16-18 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Blooms on this honey-hued tulip are compact, multi-layered, and rose-like in profile. Foliage is a dusty, sage green, and stems are not particularly long. ‘Gold Fever’ has a lovely scent and is a good choice near windows and doors. It also makes a fine-cut flower and lasts long in a vase.

Pair it with pansies and dark purple tulips for a classic spring palette, or plant with white creeping phlox for a soft, rolling carpet and a sweeter, more romantic effect.

‘Altaica’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Altaica’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 6-10 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

This low-profile spring bloomer is not immediately identified as a tulip. Its star-shaped, lemon-yellow flowers have pointed, reflexive petals and the clump-spreading characteristics of a crocus or snowdrop. Foliage is thin, scalloped and droopy.

‘Altaica’ is a member of the Miscellaneous tulip class and hails from ancestors that rambled through the countryside in central Asia. Plant it where you want it to naturalize and/or fill in beneath taller spring bloomers.

‘West Point’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘West Point’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 16-22 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

A goblet-shaped, Lily-flowered tulip with pointed, butter-yellow petals that twist and turn as they bend outward, ‘West Point’ is a stunner in any setting. Featuring one large, bright green anther at their centers, blooms on this cultivar are large and showy.

Use ‘West Point’ in the middle of a mixed border or pack some together in an urn by the back door. Stems are strong and will bend but not break in high winds.

‘Kolpakowskiana’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Kolpakowskiana’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 6-8 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

An heirloom variety that’s been around for centuries, ‘Kolpakowskiana’ is prized for its tapered, lily-like stature and bi-color foliage that varies from dark green to burgundy.

On this short-stature tulip, pale yellow petals are tinged with reddish-pink, creating a candle-flame effect. Plant ‘Kolpakowskiana’ in the front of a mixed border or alongside traditional red tulip cultivars for a nice coupling.

‘Verona’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Verona’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 10-16 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Silky, buttercream-yellow blossoms are romantic and rose-like on this favorite from the Double Early class. Outer petals are feathered with bits of green and a faint red. Base color matures toward white as the season progresses.

‘Verona’ pairs well in the garden with periwinkle blues and blush pinks. It is also highly fragrant, so consider it in the cutting garden or near heavily trafficked areas of your landscape.

‘Antoinette’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Antoinette’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 16-20
	hardiness zones 3-8

Each stem on this lovely, Single Late tulip offers 3-4 blooms, making ‘Antoinette’ a stand-out among her peers. Flowers are small and egg-shaped when closed but open in the sun to reveal petals that are painted with shades of both traditional yellow and raspberry pink lemonade.

Foliage is narrow and variegated with streaks of white, contributing to this cultivar’s multi-color personality. Plant this one in clusters for a bouquet-like presence in the garden.

‘Monsella’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Monsella’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 8-12 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Predominantly canary yellow but streaked with bright crimson, ‘Monsella’ features 4-inch double flowers that have a sweet, pleasant scent. Stems are strong in foul weather, and each produces 3 blooms, which makes it an exception to the tulip’s traditional, single-bloom norm.

Plant ‘Monsella’ in well-drained soil and make sure it gets its fair share of sunshine. Flowers last a particularly long time in both the ground and in a cut arrangement.

‘Moonlight Girl’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Moonlight Girl’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 16-20 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Slender blooms have an hourglass shape and an outward flex on this Lily-flowered tulip. Petals are a soft buttercup yellow at the base and edges, with creamy off-white midribs. Plant ‘Moonlight girl’ with pale lilacs and violets for a sweet, classic spring garden.

This variety is a good choice for an annual planting, as it does not return faithfully after the first year. Use it in regions where bulbs may not receive a period of true dormancy or in settings where you’d like to have a little something different each year.

‘Tarda’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Tarda’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4-6 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Like a freshly cracked egg in the early spring landscape, ‘Tarda’ features star-shaped flowers with yolk-yellow centers and pointed, true-white tips. Flowers are small, stature is short, and foliage is dense on this unique cultivar, creating a carpet-like effect and spreading easily.

After flowering, attractive seed pods remain on stems for a long time, which means ‘Tarda’ does not have to be hidden or folded away like many other tulip varieties.

‘Sylvestris’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Sylvestris’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 8-12 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Before opening, ‘Sylvestris’ resembles a narrow, golden light bulb with flecks of green and burgundy. The stems on this unique tulip are also burgundy-green and whimsical in nature. Some stand erect, holding blooms upright, while others bend beneath their weight, creating a drooping effect.

When fully open, flowers are lily-shaped, and petals are pointed, curling back slightly at the tips. This cultivar spreads easily and has a woodland wildflower personality.

‘Hocus Pocus’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Hocus Pocus’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 24-30 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Cup-shaped blooms on this Single Late tulip are massive at up to 6 inches wide. Petals are pineapple yellow with flames of red and pink. Standing extra tall at somewhere between 2 and 3 feet, ‘Hocus Pocus’ gets its name for resembling a magician’s wand.

Stems are thick and sturdy, holding up well in strong winds. Looks sharp in a large grouping or when planted with dark purples like grape hyacinth.

‘Secret Perfume’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Secret Perfume’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 14-16 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Blooms on this peony-form Double Early tulip are soft and papery, with multiple layers of buttercream-tipped pale yellow petals. Not surprisingly, ‘Secret Perfume’ is best known for its intoxicating scent.

Modest in stature, this cultivar looks lovely in a mixed border with other soft-hued perennials of varying heights. It’s also a sweet-smelling addition to your cut flower bouquet.

‘Bright Gem’

	botanical name Tulipa batalinii ‘Bright Gem’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 4-6 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

With pear-shaped blooms and soft round petals the color of butterscotch, ‘Bright Gem’ flushes toward apricot and orange near the end of its cycle. This Botanical tulip has a wild habit and will spread easily when left unchecked.

Use it in rocky areas, on slopes, or around tree roots for a natural landscape element. Foliage is gray-green and stems are stocky.

‘Fringed Elegance’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Fringed Elegance’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 18-22 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Petals on this Fringed group tulip are blond with creamy highlights. Their edges are frayed and crystalline, catching the sun in a delightful way. Foliage is dark green and oval in shape.

Blooms last for up to 3 weeks inside or out. Plant ‘Fringed Elegance’ with creamy white daffodils for a bit of cottage charm.

‘Ice Cream Banana’

	botanical name Tulipa ‘Ice Cream Banana’
	plant type Bulb
	sun requirements Full Sun
	height 10 inches
	hardiness zones 3-8

Like a heaping scoop of banana ice cream in a pool of raspberry sauce, this Double Late cultivar has a lovely bi-color profile. Blooms are lemonade yellow with a delicious pink base and cradled gently by green sepals and red-tipped foliage.

As a long and late bloomer, ‘Ice Cream Banana’ commands attention for a good while. Pair it with supportive, single-hued flowers that are soft pink or white.