So, you went to the Harrison Tulip Festival and left with more than just camera roll memories—you left with tulip fever. Trust me, you’re not alone. Once you’ve wandered through 12 million blooms of every shape and colour imaginable, it’s hard not to get a little obsessed.
Today, we’re digging (pun 100% intended) into the world of tulips: the amazing variety out there, how these blooms make their way from Holland and BC soil to the fields of Agassiz, and even how you can start your very own tulip garden at home.
The Incredible World of Tulip Varieties
Tulips are so much more than those classic red petals your grandma had in her spring planter. At the Harrison Tulip Festival alone, you’ll spot over 50 varieties ranging from the bold and flamboyant to the subtle and rare. Some favourites to look out for:
- Parrot Tulips: Frilly, feathered petals that look like they were painted with watercolours.
- Double Tulips: Think tulip meets peony—lush and full with layers upon layers of petals.
- Viridiflora Tulips: Petals streaked with green, giving them an almost alien elegance.
- Fringed Tulips: Delicate lace-like edges for a fairy-tale vibe.
- Rembrandt Tulips: Rare and speckled, reminiscent of old Dutch paintings (and yes, named for that Rembrandt).
What’s wild is how many of these varieties are sourced directly from Holland, thanks to the festival’s partnership with Onos Greenhouses Ltd. The Dutch have been perfecting tulips since the 1600s (hello, Tulip Mania), and their influence is still blooming strong today.
Pair that with locally grown BC tulips, and you’ve got one of the most diverse collections of spring blooms in North America—right in our Fraser Valley backyard. Yet another reason why we are so lucky to live here in Vancouver B.C. – truly such a beautiful drive to the festival and jaw dropping-ly beautiful again once you get there.
From Bulb to Bloom: The Life Cycle of a Tulip
Ever wonder how tulips get from that tiny brown bulb to Instagram stardom? Here’s the short and sweet life story of every tulip in your bouquet:
- Fall Planting: Tulip bulbs are planted in the fall, ideally before the first hard frost. The cold is essential—it actually triggers the bulb’s growth process.
- Winter Chill: While it seems nothing is happening, the bulb is developing roots underground, snuggled beneath a blanket of soil.
- Early Spring Sprout: As the ground warms, tulips push through the surface, forming those signature green shoots.
- Spring Bloom: This is their moment. Tulips bloom once a year for about 1–3 weeks, depending on the variety and weather.
- Post-Bloom Dieback: Once the flower fades, the plant redirects energy back to the bulb. The leaves stick around a bit longer to photosynthesize.
- Summer Dormancy: The bulb “rests” underground until the next fall, when the whole cycle begins again.
Want a Tulip Garden of Your Own? Here’s How to Do It Right
Planting tulips at home is easier than you think, and a great way to keep that tulip fest magic alive year after year. Here’s what you need to know to become the local tulip whisperer:
Best Time to Plant
- Fall, ideally October to November in BC, before the first frost hits.
Pick Your Spot
- Sunny location with well-drained soil is key.
- Avoid soggy spots—bulbs can rot if they sit in water too long.
How to Plant
- Plant bulbs 6 to 8 inches deep and about 4–6 inches apart.
- Pointy end up, flat root side down.
- Water them once after planting, then leave them be until spring.
Bonus Tip: Layer Like a Lasagna
Want continuous colour? Try “lasagna planting”—layering early, mid, and late-blooming tulips in the same spot. As one variety fades, the next comes up. Instant multi-week garden.
Why Buy Festival Bulbs?
Not only can you grab fresh-cut bouquets at the Harrison Tulip Festival, but you can also purchase bulbs of the very tulips you fell in love with on-site. These aren’t your average nursery finds—many are rare varieties sourced straight from Holland or selectively grown right here in BC. So if you want your garden to look like it was plucked from a postcard, this is the place to start.
Plus, buying bulbs at the festival supports local growers, artists, and farmers—a blooming good cause if you ask me.
Bringing the Festival Home
Whether you’re dreaming up a front-yard rainbow or just want to keep a bit of spring sunshine in your planters, tulips are the perfect low-maintenance, high-impact flower for BC gardeners. And once you understand their rhythm and root system, you’ll never look at a flowerbed the same way again.
So the next time you’re walking through the tulip fields of Agassiz, know this: each bloom has a journey—and now, you can start your own.
