Dwarf Tulip
Tulipa 'Red Riding Hood' is a dwarf Greigii tulip that brings storybook charm to spring gardens with its compact 6 to 9 inch frame and vivid scarlet blooms. These low-maintenance bulbs thrive in hardiness zones 3 through 8, returning reliably year after year when conditions suit them. Blooming in April with flowers that command attention despite their diminutive size, these tulips earn their place in borders, containers, and cutting gardens alike. Plant bulbs in fall for reliable performance and the option to naturalize them as perennials in well-drained soil.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-8
9in H x 9in W
Perennial
Moderate
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Red Riding Hood tulips deliver outsized impact from a tiny package. Their saturated red flowers stand upright on short stems, making them exceptional for rock gardens and front-of-border planting where taller varieties would overwhelm the composition. The blooms are excellent as cut flowers, opening into elegant cups that last well indoors. Most gardeners are pleasantly surprised to find these species tulips return dependably as perennials, especially compared to the less reliable hybrid tulips that many treat as annuals.
Red Riding Hood tulips excel in spring containers where their compact height prevents them from becoming leggy or top-heavy. Their bright red color makes them natural choices for borders bordering pathways or focal points in small garden beds. The flowers hold up exceptionally well when cut and brought indoors, offering several days of color in a vase. Gardeners who want to establish naturalized plantings often favor these species tulips over hybrid varieties, as they persist and multiply when left undisturbed in appropriate conditions.
Plant bulbs in fall 4 to 6 inches deep and 2 to 5 inches apart in full sun and well-drained soil. In heavy clay soils, reduce planting depth slightly to prevent bulb rot.
Remove spent flower stems promptly after blooming when growing tulips as perennials. This redirects the plant's energy toward strengthening the bulb for next season's bloom rather than seed development.
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