Gardeners can choose from hundreds of tulip varieties. There are a number of excellent heirloom varieties with yellow and orange blossoms. Here are details on some of those.


Mrs. John T. Scheepers Tulip

Mrs. John T. Scheepers tulip is an heirloom single late tulip. The exact date of its introduction is uncertain, but it was a triple award winner in 1930.

This tulip does best in zones three through eight and is suited to full sun and part shade. The long lived plant is ideal for flower beds and borders. The long, sturdy stems make wonderful cut flowers.

Mrs. John T. Scheepers tulip is 22 to 28 inches in height. The Fedco bulb catalog describes this classic variety as “one of the most perfect tulips of all time” and “the best yellow tulip ever produced.”

The large, oval blossoms have the classic tulip shape. Flowering in late May, Mrs. John T. Scheepers tulips are a very rich deep golden yellow to a dark gold. This and its offspring have twice the chromosomes of most other tulips. This variety continues to retain its popularity and is readily available.


West Point Tulip

West Point tulip is a popular lily flowered, heirloom variety. This award winning plant received the coveted AGM award. It has been around since 1943 or so.

The plant is from one to 1½ feet in height. The scented blossoms are perfect for cut flowers. They appear mid to late spring, usually in April and May.

The primrose yellow blossoms feature slender petals that are long and pointed. These are outward facing and curl backwards.


Princess Irene Tulip

Princess Irene tulip was released in 1949. As one can tell from the name, it was named for a princess, who was Dutch. This plant was a sport of the Couleur Cardinal tulip. It received the coveted AGM award.

Some sources list this as a mid season triumph tulip. The John Scheepers catalog lists it as a single early variety. In “Heirloom Flower Gardens,” Jo Ann Gardner characterized it as “one of the most distinctive tulips of the 20th century.” The flowers are very long lasting.


This variety does best in zones three through eight and reaches one to 1 1/3 feet in height. The adaptable, popular plant is good for forcing and for growing indoors and outdoors in containers.

Tolerant of full sun and shade, this has stems that are perfect for cut flowers, partly due to the long stems.

Princess Irene tulip blooms in early spring, usually in April and May. The bowl shaped blossoms are essentially two toned. They’re a salmon-apricot to an orange-peach. On the outside, there are streaks and flames of blue-violet, purple, or deep brownish-purple.