Five stunning tulip combinations

It can be tricky to get these right, though - not least because tulips can flower at different times in spring. Some flower in early spring, others in late spring.

So we've done the hard work for you – here are five stunning tulip combinations to plant in your containers and borders.

Pink, purple and orange

This pretty combination flowers from late April to early May. We used:

Pink: 'Don Quichotte' (late April-May)
Purple: 'Cafe Noir' (late April-May)
Orange: 'Cairo' (April)

Other tulips to try

Orange: 'Orange Princess' (April), 'Ego Parrot' (May)
Pink: 'Marathon Champion' (April), 'China Pink' (May)
Purple: 'Havran' (April), 'Indian Velvet' (mid May)

Pink and purple

This purple and pink combination will give flowers from late April-May.

Purple: 'Recreado'
Dark pink: 'Jacqueline'
Pale pink: 'Angelique'

Other tulips to try

Purple: 'Purple Flag' (April), 'Queen of the Night' (May), 'Burgundy' (May)
Dark pink: 'Blue Ribbon' (April), 'Pittsburg; (Apr-May), 'Barcelona' (May)
Light pink: 'New Design (April), 'China Town' (May)

All white

This striking all-white combination will give a stunning display with contrasting flower shapes in May.

Parrot: 'White Parrot' (May)
Triumph: 'White Triumphator' (May)
Single late: 'Maureen' (May)

Other tulips to try

'White Dream' (April-May)
'Sapporo' (May)

Red, white and yellow

This selection uses tulips that flower in late April to early May.

Yellow: 'West Point'
White and red: 'Burning Heart'

Other tulips to try

Yellow: 'Golden Apeldoorn' (April), 'Monte Carlo' (April), 'Sapporo' (May), 'Yellow Springreen' (May)
Red/white: 'Happy Generation' (April), 'Carnaval de Nice' (May), 'Estella Rijnveld' (May)

Shades of orange

This duo with contrasting flower shapes blooms in late March to April.

Dark orange: 'Orange Emperor' (March-April)
Light orange: 'Bestseller' (April)

Other tulips to try

Dark orange: 'Prinses Irene' (April), 'Ballerina' (April-May), 'Vivienne Westwood' (April-May)
Light orange: 'Apricot Beauty' (April), 'Apricot Foxx' (April-May), 'Stunning Apricot' (mid May)