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Key characteristics

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

Bulbs

Tulipa 'Orange Emperor'

Orange Emperor Fosteriana Tulip

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.

Light

Full sun to part shade

Water

Moderate

Bloom time

Early spring

Find this plant

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.