Northwest Blooms · Bulbs
Tulipa 'Orange Emperor'
Orange Emperor Fosteriana Tulip
- Family
- Liliaceae
- Height
- 10 to 18 in
- Width
- 4 to 6 in
- Flower color
- Bright orange to tangerine-orange
- Foliage color
- Gray-green to blue-green, lance-shaped leaves
- Bloom time
- Early spring
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Low, remove spent flowers to prevent seed formation, allow foliage to yellow naturally before removal
- Growing zone
- USDA zones 3 to 8
- Wildlife
- Occasional visits from bees
About this plant
Tulipa 'Orange Emperor' produces large, cup-shaped flowers in clear orange tones. The blossoms are single in form, opening broadly with smooth, slightly pointed petals that give the flowers a clean, open profile. Blooming occurs in early to mid spring, when the flowers expand fully and hold their shape well in cool seasonal conditions.
This cultivar belongs to the Fosteriana, a class known for robust early-season performance and bold floral presentation. 'Orange Emperor' was developed through Dutch breeding programs and introduced as part of a long-established lineage of Emperor tulips selected for strong color, reliable flowering, and substantial blooms that perform consistently in spring displays.
Works well in
Borders · Cottage Gardens · Under Trees · Woodland Gardens · Containers
Companion plants
Hostas · Ferns · Daffodils · Creeping phlox · Columbines · Lungworts
Design tip
Spring bloom is its headline moment, and it reads best in a group rather than as a single plant. Drift them in uneven groups for a natural look, and interplant with perennials that fill the gap after the leaves die back.
Where to see it
This plant can be seen at Roozengaarde.
