Tulips are one of those elusive blooms in the South where some gardens have successful annual bunches and others don’t quite have the environment they need. While our luck may be hot and cold with planting them, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy tulips during the spring by purchasing bundles at the store. Tulip arrangements can be tricky because of their slender and delicate stems, so florist wire will be your friend in some of these arrangement ideas. Learning how to arrange tulips can feel like a journey, but a bit of patience and beginning with simple arrangements will make the task easier and fun. Whether you’re looking for tulip and rose bouquet inspiration or general tulip arrangement ideas, we’ve included a bit of everything in this gallery. After you’ve created your arrangement, be sure to rotate it so that the blooms receive equal sun exposure, as tulips grow toward light.
Floating Tulip Arrangement
We promise this arrangement is way easier than it may appear. It’s the ideal option for anyone who doesn’t consider themselves to be an at-home floral enthusiast.
Staggered Vessels
White tulips, purple hyacinths, allium blooms and a bit of greenery make these tiny arrangements stand out in their bright turquoise containers. See the full details on this spring table spread here.
Submerged Tulips
Cut tulips can be difficult to work with at times, but this arrangement makes for an easy and manageable centerpiece. Run to the store and purchase a bundle of cut tulips. Use any glass vessel you may have in your house and gently place the tulip in the glass before filling it with water. You can alternate the way the blooms are arranged in each glass and float a tea light on top of the water.
Potted Bulbs
Buy a potted tulip from the store and dress it up with moss and a new container. Be sure to keep it in full light near a window to ensure it grows.
Tulips Mixed with a Spring Veggie
Parrot tulips have a beautiful, feathered edge that adds even more texture to an arrangement.
A Bundle of Tulips
You don’t have to arrange an extravagant bouquet on your table for it to look beautiful. A bundle of tulips can have just as much interest and down-played elegance as an arrangement with several flower varieties. Alternate your tulips with a bit of greenery like kale or cabbage heads to make the tablescape truly pop.
Think in Threes
Create three bundles of tulips and place them in a tall linear vase that will support their slender stems. If you don’t have this type of vase, three separate slender vases grouped together can create the same visual effect.
Assorted Tiny Arrangements
Gather an assortment of glasses that look similar in color and add a few blooms to each one. The result is an easy and quick spring tulip arrangement for your table.
Imitate Spring Blooms
Cut dogwood limbs and Queen Anne’s lace from your yard and mix them with a bundle of cut tulips for an arrangement that imitates your blooming surroundings.
Mason Jar Bud Vase
These buds may not look like tulips at first glance, but they are! Gently flip the petals inside out to create an open bloom.
The Cabbage Centerpiece
This arrangement is much simpler than it looks. And it’s sure to impress your guests. Follow the step-by-step instructions here.
Basket of Buds
We used roses and a bit of filler in addition to the tulips, but you can certainly stick to one flower variety if you choose. Floral foam is the secret in this arrangement. You can add florist wire to some of the taller tulip stems to keep them from drooping.
Mix with Other Spring Blooms
Submerge tulips in a fish bowl vase filled with water and float other seasonal blooms along the surface for a pretty and no fuss arrangement.
Pretty in Purple
We grouped blue hybrid delphiniums and purple anemones against white stocks and tulips in this centerpiece. Touches of dusty miller and seeded eucalyptus provide contrast and texture, while succulents give an unexpected twist. For a little height—without blocking the view—we added twigs from the yard.
Tulip Door Swag
While peonies may be the center of attraction in this pretty spring door swag, tulips are the supporting role. Their drooping stems give this arrangement motion and volume.
Mix and Match
Use the same technique we mentioned previously to pop open a few tulip blooms, then arrange them with closed blooms for an interesting spring arrangement.
Tulip Hurricanes
If you’re worried about your tulips drooping as they age in an arrangement, opt for tall vases that will support their delicate stems.
Peachy Tulips
To achieve this look, cut all the tulip stems the same height and place them all in a wide-rimmed vase at the same time. Spin the stems just a bit so they create a circular effect, as shown in the image. If any of the leaves are hanging over the side of the vase, twirl them around a pencil to create a corkscrew.