9 top tulips

‘Dreamland’ AGm

Subtle yet colourful, the petals are rich rosy-pink with white at their base, the white seeping up into the pink but retreating as the flower matures. Lovely with silver-leaved and blue-flowered brunneras. Flowers: May. H: 2ft (60cm).

‘estella rijnveld’

Unusually large flowers, their petals prettily fringed, come in a bold mix of bright white and even brighter red, featuring faint-green streaks. Best planted as a specimen clump; great for cutting. Flowers: May. H 11⁄2ft (45cm).

‘Ancilla’ AGm

Very short. The prettily mottled foliage supports flowers in white and vivid rose-red. Gold at the base, they open to reveal a golden throat edged in orange. Good in windowboxes with blue scillas. Flowers: Mar-Apr. H: 8in (20cm).

‘Ballerina’

Elegantly waisted flowers in soft terracotta-orange are citrus-scented and held on sturdy stems. Bulbs reflower better than most. Lovely with ‘Fire King’ wallflowers or purple-leaved fennel. Flowers: May. H: 22in (55cm).

‘Angelique’ AGm

Lovely and long-lasting, the broad, double flowers are pink and white – they look like raspberries stirred into ice cream. Partner with blue or white Anemone blanda, or blue forget-menots. Flowers: Apr-May. H: 11⁄2ft (45cm).

‘Fur elise’

Pastel tones are rare in dwarf tulips, but ‘Fur Elise’ is a soft blend of peach, apricot and amber shades. Good with dwarf blue forget-me-nots, pale-pink double daisies or dainty dwarf daffodils. Flowers: Mar. H: 1ft (30cm).

‘Sorbet’ AGm

Interesting and unique; pure white petals are gently striped on the outside with a few carmine-red flames, and tipped with green. Inside, the flowers are white. Grow through tall forget-menots. Flowers: May. H: 2ft (60cm).

‘Negrita’

Beautifully rounded blooms in deeppurple with faint reddish veins have a light scent. Good mixed with purple and white ‘Rem’s Favourite’ or ‘Shirley’ tulips. Repeat flowers better than most. Flowers: Apr-May. H: 11⁄2ft (45cm).

‘China town’

Late-flowering, with white-edged leaves giving colour before the green-streaked rose-pink blooms appear. Perfect in a windowbox with silver-variegated ivy or pale blue ‘Ocean Magic’ muscari. Flowers: May. H: 1ft (30cm).