10 Tulips In New York to Plant This Autumn

Most gardeners are starting to think about next year and what they should plant now to get ready. If you’re interested in tulips in New York, you’re spot on with that thinking. Most bulbs plants, including tulips, require fall planting for a rich, colorful harvest of blooms next spring.

Read on to learn about the right time, right place, and how to plant tulips in New York.

Are Tulips Perennial Or Annual Flowers?

In most cases, tulips are annual flowers today because of the significant hybridization the flowers have seen over the centuries. Heirloom varieties and non-hybrids, however, grow as perennials when planted properly and cared for as they should be.

Even so, annual tulips typically bloom up to two years before their production declines. Plant these beauties in Autumn for thriving tulip gardens.

When Should I Plant Tulips in New York?

Approximately 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost is predicted this year, get out those gardening gloves. It’s time to plant tulips before the ground hardens or frost drops the soil temperature too much.

Plant tulips in New York between September and mid-November, depending on when the first frost is predicted.

How to Plant Tulips in New York

Planting tulips in New York doesn’t require a lot of complicated steps. However, they do require some careful planning and planting for best results next spring.

1. Choose the right location. Tulips need well-draining soil in full sun exposure locations.
2. Prepare the soil with organic matter. These beautiful bloomers need peat moss or compost to lower the pH levels to slightly acidic levels.
3. Plant tulips in holes about twice the size of each bulb. The holes should go about 6 inches deep and be spaced 4 to 6 inches apart.
4. Fertilize the hole before you plant. Add bulb fertilizer for the best results possible. Be sure to follow the instructions on the packaging.
5. Plant the bulbs pointed end up. Then loosely press the soil around the bulb to keep it in place without compacting the soil.
6. Water the tulip bulbs after planting. Then be sure to keep them moist until winter hits.
7. Top tulip bulbs with a layer of mulch. This helps the soil retain moisture and regulates the soil temperature better.
8. Add a marker for each tulip or patch. Otherwise, you might do some damage while the bulbs lie dormant in the winter!

Best Tulips Varieties for Planting in New York

Numerous varieties thrive within New York’s climate. The key is using proper soil amendments and keeping them properly cared for. The best varieties for New York come down to choosing the ones that do well in a wide range of climates and conditions.

Some of the best tulips in New York come from these varieties:

• Acropolis
• Apeldoorn
• Menton
• Candy Prince
• White Triumphator
• Purple Prince
• Black Parrot
• Candela
• Carnival De Nice
• Orange Emperor

Best Tulip Fields and Festivals in New York

If growing your own tulips in New York doesn’t satisfy your longing for glorious blooms, head out to the festivals, fields and farms. You’ll find literal millions of blooms throughout the state, accessible for viewing by the general public.

Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden, Greater Niagara

Visit the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden for stunning tulip displays all spring long. The “River of Tulips” will get you giddy, while the other spring flowers fill the air with radiant fragrances. Exotic horticulture, spring flower shows, and much more greet visitors in this heady floral paradise each spring.

New York Botanical Garden, New York City

For more than 125 years, the New York Botanical Garden has been offering visitors stunning floral displays. In springtime, plenty of tulips fill the flowerbeds with their rainbow glory. Be sure to stop by for this seasonal color explosion.

Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park, Finger Lakes

In the Finger Lakes, you’ll find the stunning Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion State Historic Park. Here, among the Victorian era estate grounds, you’ll see 50 acres of gardens and grounds, filled with tulips in springtime.

Albany Tulip Festival, Albany

Head northward to the capital for viewing of over 140,000 tulips blooming in Albany. The tulip festival celebrates the Dutch roots of folks in the area, with stunning displays throughout Washington Park. Local artisans and food vendors join in, along with music acts and a kid zone. The best part is that all of this is free for the public to enjoy any time during the festival.

Waterdrinker Family Farm Tulip Festival, Manorville, Long Island

Some of the most incredible tulips in the whole state may be found at the Waterdrinker Family Farm on Long Island. The farm contains these stunning fields full of 2 million tulips every year, along with farmyard animals, mini golf, and other family-friendly activities. Typically, their festival runs for 4 to 5 weeks starting in mid-April, dependent on weather.

Brooklyn Botanic Garden Tulips, Brooklyn, New York City

Tucked into the city, in the Brooklyn Borough, you’ll find the stunning Brooklyn Botanic Garden and all its beautiful tulips each April and May. Occasionally, the cherry blossoms and tulips bloom at the same time, making this an even more intoxicating place. The garden’s main bloom season runs from April to May, from 8 am to sunset most days. The garden is closed on Mondays.

Central Park NYC Tulips, Manhattan, New York City

An explosion of color occurs each year with more than 20,000 tulip bulbs planted in the Central Park Conservatory Garden. This free option for seeing glorious tulips in New York is one of your best bets if you’re in or close to the city. View 25 or more varieties in the South Garden from April to May. You’ll also spot more tulips around the park in places like Shakespeare’s Garden, along the Reservoir, and in Olmsted Flower Bed.

Fun Facts about Tulips

• Over 3,000 varieties and cultivars of tulips exist in the world.
• Originally, tulips were perennials and came back each year. Now, because of all the hybridization, these flowers generally only live 1 to 2 years before dying back. To have perennials, plant heirloom and non-hybrids.
• While most folks think of tulips as Dutch flowers, they actually originated in the Ottoman Empire (Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and others in that region).
• Today, the Netherlands produce more tulips than the rest of the world. They export over 2 billion bulbs every year.
• Tulips belong to the lily family.
• Tulips come in nearly every shade imaginable, except true blue shades.