Rembrandt tulip

Spring flowering bulb

Family: Liliaceae (Lily family)

Botanical name:Tulipa gesneriana

Long ago, in the 17th and 18th centuries, tulips with petals displaying flamed patterns (also known as ‘broken tulips’) demanded extremely high prices. Now we know that this colour-breaking is the result of certain virus diseases, but in those days, of course, the concept of viruses was as yet completely unknown. Some of these classic Rembrandt tulips can still be seen in the famous bulb garden, the Hortus Bulborum in the Dutch town of Limmen. Today, we can still fall under the spell of these majestic tulips, because few other tulip cultivars display such bold flames of colour without indication of virus.

Most significant cultivars

  • ‘Cordell Hull’: creamy white
  • ‘Olympic Flame’: yellow, flamed red
  • ‘Prince Carnaval’: yellow, flamed red
  • ‘Sorbet’: rosy white

Type of bulb: bulb

Planting period:

September – December (autumn, before the ground freezes)

Flowering period:

April – May (mid to late spring)

Frequently asked questions

Rembrandt tulips are tulips with striking flame or streak patterns on their petals. In the 17th century, these patterns were caused by a virus, but modern Rembrandt tulips are bred to be healthy and virus-free.

The name refers to the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn, representing the Golden Age when tulips and “tulip mania” became cultural symbols.

No. Historic Rembrandt tulips were the result of a virus that altered the petal colors. Modern Rembrandt tulips are specially bred to recreate the flame pattern without disease.

They usually flower in mid to late spring, typically from April to May.

  • ‘Cordell Hull’: creamy white
  • ‘Olympic Flame’: yellow, flamed red
  • ‘Prince Carnaval’: yellow, flamed red
  • ‘Sorbet’: rosy white

Watch our planting flower bulbs video

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Parrot tulips

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