Tulips are one of those elusive blooms in the South where some gardens have successful annual bunches and others don’t quite have the environment they need. While our luck may be hot and cold with planting them, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy tulips during the spring (and throughout the year) by purchasing bouquet at the store.
While it’s hard to beat a bundle of tulips in a mix of vivid colors, if you’re buying blooms at the store, look for stems that aren’t open yet as they’ll last longer. “You want to get them when they’re still tightly closed and just starting to show color to maximize their vase life,” explains tulip grower Kaylee Hubert of Hubert Family Farms.
Tulips can be finicky because of their slender and delicate stems, so florist wire can be your friend or you can embrace their whimsy, letting them fall as they wish. After you’ve created your arrangement, be sure to rotate it so that the blooms receive equal sun exposure, as tulips grow toward light. Here are 20 tulip arrangement ideas that highlight the spring bloom on its own and paired with other flowers.
Floating Tulips
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We promise this arrangement is way easier than it may appear. It’s the ideal option for anyone who doesn’t consider themselves to be an at-home floral enthusiast. Select a shallow and wide bowl and fill it with a few inches of water, then carefully place any flowers (with stems cut short) or branches of your choosing on top.
Fanned Out
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To achieve this look, cut all the tulip stems the same height and place them all in a wide-rimmed vase at the same time. Spin the stems just a bit so they create a circular effect, as shown in the image. If any of the leaves are hanging over the side of the vase, twirl them around a pencil to create a corkscrew.
Monochromatic Magic
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Use a variety of flowers to create a stunning monochromatic look. You can even pair the blooms with a complimentary colored vase. Here, chicken wire creates a base within the vessel to hold the pink double tulips, ranunculus (blooms and buds), and peonies in place.
Potted Bulbs
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Buy a potted tulip from the store and dress it up with moss in a table-top friendly container. Be sure to keep it in full light near a window to ensure it grows when it’s not acting as a live centerpiece.
Tall Hurricanes
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If you’re worried about your tulips drooping as they age in an arrangement, opt for tall vases, like the hurricanes, that will support their delicate stems.
A Cabbage Centerpiece
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This arrangement is much simpler than it looks and is sure to impress guests. Start by trimming the bottom of one head of cabbage to create a flat base, then cut a hole the size of your vase (we suggest a mason jar) on top and remove the inside. Place the jar in the carved out space and fill with blooms! Follow step-by-step instructions here.
Imitate Spring Blooms
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Cut dogwood limbs and Queen Anne’s lace from your yard and mix them with a bundle of cut tulips for an arrangement that imitates your blooming surroundings.
A Pretty Container
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While this container is front-porch ready, you can create a smaller version to add a long-lasting pop of spring to an entryway or outdoor dining table. Start with a potted plant like dwarf English boxwoods, then add blooms around it. Here, classic yellow tulips (‘Hella Lights’) and ‘Icy Blue’ violas add a pop of color.
Tulips Mixed with a Spring Veggie
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You can select any style and color tulip for this idea. Here, parrot tulips which have a beautiful, feathered edge add even more texture to an arrangement. To incorporate the asparagus, tie two ribbons around your vessel, leaving about 1/4 an inch of wiggle room, then tuck in the vegetables between the vase and ribbon all the way around until the glass is covered.
In Mason Jars
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These buds may not look like tulips at first glance, but they are! Gently flip the petals inside out to create an open bloom.
In a Trio
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Create three bundles of tulips and place them in a tall linear vase that will support their slender stems, wrapping an extra tulip leaf around the base of each for stability and interest. If you don’t have this type of vase, three separate slender vases grouped together can create the same visual effect.
Basket of Buds
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We used roses and a bit of filler in addition to the tulips, but you can certainly stick to one flower variety if you choose. Floral foam is the secret in this arrangement. You can add florist wire to some of the taller tulip stems to keep them from drooping.
A Spring Bloom Mix
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Submerge tulips in a clear fish bowl-style vase filled with water and float other seasonal blooms along the surface for a pretty and no fuss arrangement. Use a large vessel for an impressive centerpiece or coffee table display, or create a grouping of smaller glass bowls.
Mix and Match
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Use the same technique of carefully flipping the petals inside out to pop open a few tulip blooms. Pair them with closed blooms for an eye-catching spring arrangement.
Colorful Vessels
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Use any fun and colorful vases paired with your favorite blooms. Here, white tulips, purple hyacinths, allium blooms, and a bit of greenery make these tiny arrangements stand out in their bright turquoise containers.
Simple and Organic
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Tulips don’t require a lot to look beautiful. Their colorful buds truly do the work for you when creating a beautiful bouquet. Simply place an assorted colorful bouquet into a wide-mouthed vessel and let them fall loosely.
Pretty in Purple
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We paired blue hybrid delphiniums and purple anemones with white stocks and tulips in this centerpiece. Touches of dusty miller and seeded eucalyptus provide contrast and texture while succulents give an unexpected twist. For a little height, but without blocking the view, we added foraged twigs.
Submerged Buds
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Cut tulips can be difficult to work with at times, but this arrangement makes for an easy and manageable centerpiece. Use any glass vessel you may have in your house and gently place the tulip in the glass before filling it with water. You can alternate the way the blooms are arranged in each glass and even float a tea light on top of the water.
A Bundle of Tulips
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You don’t need an extravagant bouquet for your table to look beautiful. A simple bundle of tulips can have just as much impact and wow-factor as an arrangement with multiple flower varieties. Alternate your tulips with a bit of greenery like kale or cabbage heads to make the table top truly pop.
Assorted Bud Vases
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Gather an assortment of glassware and vases that are similar in color and add a few blooms to each one. The result is an easy and quick spring tulip arrangement for your table.
