Fringed tulips, classified as Division 7 in the official tulip classification system, are distinguished by their uniquely beautiful petals whose edges are delicately cut into fine, crystal-like fringes that catch the light and create an almost frost-bitten or feathered appearance of extraordinary refinement.
First appearing as natural mutations in the 1930s and subsequently developed through deliberate breeding programmes, fringed tulips bloom in mid to late spring and are among the most sophisticated and sought-after tulips available to gardeners and florists alike.
Fringed Tulip Varieties
‘Cummins’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Cummins’ is a stunning fringed tulip bearing large, elegantly formed blooms of deep, rich scarlet-red whose dramatically fringed petal edges create an almost crystalline, ice-like border of vivid colour that intensifies the already bold impact of the red petals.
The fringes catch the light with a glittering quality that gives this variety an almost jewelled appearance, and the strong, upright stems make it an outstanding choice for both garden display and cutting for arrangements where its dramatic colour and texture are best appreciated at close quarters.
‘Louvre’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Louvre’ is a breathtakingly beautiful fringed tulip producing large, goblet-shaped blooms of soft, creamy white whose petal edges are adorned with exceptionally fine, dense, crystal-white fringes of remarkable delicacy that give the entire flower a luminous, almost translucent quality in sunlight.
Named after the famous Parisian museum, it has the quiet, refined elegance of a classical artwork and is one of the most prized white fringed tulips available, performing magnificently in formal garden borders and in white-themed floral arrangements.
‘Burgundy Lace’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Burgundy Lace’ is one of the most widely grown and most celebrated of all fringed tulips, its large, wine-red to deep burgundy blooms edged with intricate, wine-coloured fringes that create a richly textured, almost velvety border of dramatic beauty against the deep, saturated colour of the petals.
It is a tall, strong-stemmed variety of great reliability and presence that has earned the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its consistent performance, generous flowering, and the outstanding quality of its deeply coloured, finely fringed blooms.
‘Hamilton’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Hamilton’ is a spectacular, deeply golden-yellow fringed tulip bearing large, rounded blooms with exceptionally long, pronounced fringes along the petal margins that are among the most dramatic and heavily fringed of any variety in the Division 7 group.
The rich, warm yellow of the petals combined with the elaborate fringing creates a flower of exuberant, almost tropical character that brings a burst of sunny warmth to the late spring garden and associates magnificently with deep purple and burgundy companions in mixed plantings.
‘Blue Heron’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Blue Heron’ is a tall, elegant fringed tulip producing large blooms in a beautiful shade of soft violet-purple with crystal-violet fringes along the petal edges that complement the cool, refined colour of the petals with extraordinary sophistication.
Despite its name the colour is emphatically purple rather than blue, but the cool, blue-toned purple and the delicate, icy quality of the fringes together create an impression of cool, aristocratic elegance that has made ‘Blue Heron’ one of the most admired fringed tulips among discerning gardeners and florists.
‘Swan Wings’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Swan Wings’ is a pure, pristine white fringed tulip of exceptional elegance, its relatively slim, refined blooms adorned with white fringes of great delicacy that give the flower a feathery, almost cloud-like lightness quite different from the bolder, more structured fringes of other varieties.
The name is perfectly chosen — the petals do indeed suggest the soft, layered feathers of a swan’s wing, and the overall effect is one of graceful, airy whiteness that is invaluable in bridal arrangements and white garden schemes of every kind.
‘Fancy Frills’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Fancy Frills’ is a charming, delicately coloured fringed tulip bearing blooms of soft, blush-white with rose-pink streaking and feathering on the outer petals, each edged with fine, pink-tipped white fringes that create a prettily feminine, softly romantic effect of considerable charm.
The bicoloured, streaked quality of the petals combined with the delicate fringes gives ‘Fancy Frills’ an almost watercolour-painting quality, as if the colour has been applied with a fine brush in soft, blending strokes rather than in solid, uniform blocks.
‘Fringed Elegance’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Fringed Elegance’ is a primrose-yellow fringed tulip of refined, understated beauty, its soft, pale yellow blooms edged with yellow fringes that are subtly flecked with pink along the outermost petal surfaces, creating a gentle, blushed, two-toned effect that becomes more apparent as the flower matures and the outer petals develop their pink suffusion.
It is a variety of quiet, sophisticated charm rather than bold, dramatic impact, and it associates beautifully with white, cream, and soft pink companions in refined spring border plantings.
‘Maja’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Maja’ is a beautiful buttercup-yellow fringed tulip bearing large, well-formed blooms with dense, intricately fringed petal margins of golden-yellow that create a richly textured, almost lace-like border to each smooth, bright petal.
It is a strong, reliable performer of good vigour and consistent flowering that has remained popular with gardeners and florists since its introduction, and the warm, cheerful yellow of its blooms combined with the elaborate fringes makes it one of the most joyful and uplifting of all late-spring flowering tulips.
‘Arma’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Arma’ is a striking, deep carmine-red fringed tulip of great intensity and presence, its large, boldly coloured blooms edged with red fringes tipped with crystal-white that create a dramatic and unusual contrast between the deep, saturated red of the petals and the pale, sparkling fringe margins.
This interplay of deep colour and pale fringe tip gives ‘Arma’ a complexity and visual depth that rewards close examination, and the strong, upright stems and reliable vigour make it an excellent choice for both garden planting and cutting.
‘Davenport’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Davenport’ is a vivid, flame-orange fringed tulip producing large, generously sized blooms of warm, glowing orange with finely cut orange fringes along the petal margins that enhance and extend the fiery, luminous quality of the petals.
Orange fringed tulips of good quality are relatively uncommon in the overall Division 7 catalogue, making ‘Davenport’ a particularly valued variety for gardeners and florists seeking to introduce warm, vibrant orange tones into fringed tulip plantings and arrangements without sacrificing the refined, crystalline fringe character that defines this group.
‘Lambada’ (Fringed Tulip)
‘Lambada’ is one of the most flamboyant and visually exciting of all fringed tulips, its large blooms combining vivid red-orange petals with bold yellow margins and yellow fringes along the petal edges that create a striking, bicoloured flower of great energy and warmth.
The combination of the fiery red-orange centre, the contrasting yellow border, and the elaborate golden fringes gives ‘Lambada’ an almost tropical, celebratory character that sets it apart from the more restrained, monochrome fringed tulips and makes it an outstanding choice for bold, colourful late-spring garden displays.