Certain types of tulips, such as species, Kaufmanniana, Viridiflora and Fosteriana are longer lived than others. Darwin Hybrids combine the best of both groups. The bulb bloom season is divided into very early, early, mid, or late. A tulip that blooms early should be in flower at the same time as an early daffodil. In our area, early is usually the last week of April or first week of May, but it can differ greatly from year to year.
Tulips grow in any well-drained soil.
They prefer full sun to do their best, but you can often be successful in partial shade if you choose early bulbs. The amount of spring sun is the most important. To provide adequate time for rooting, it is best to plant tulips in late September to mid-October. If you need to plant them a little later, plant them an inch or two deeper and mulch heavily. Plant your tulips between 6-10 inches deep.