Tulips with delivery in Zurich: varieties, the Zurich spring, and Sechseläuten
In Zurich, the tulip announces that spring has won. From March, the beds light up along the lake quays and in the Bellevue gardens, while at the Bürkliplatz flower market armfuls of tulips appear before anything else. The city moves from winter grey to colour in a few weeks, and the tulip is at the heart of that shift. It is the flower you give to say the fine days are back.
The category covers single-colour bouquets from 11 to 51 stems, mixed spring arrangements, and gift boxes combining tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, and anemones. The Zurich spring warms unevenly, with cold snaps and bursts of foehn, so the tulip season here is concentrated — March to May — and precise delivery timing matters.
Which varieties to choose
Dutch growers release hundreds of tulip varieties each year. We select those that combine stem strength, long vase life, and an interesting look — the criteria the Zurich buyer values.
- Strong Gold — golden yellow, a classic tulip on a tall, straight stem. Much in demand in spring, it pairs well with white and soft-green compositions.
- Red Impression — intense red, large bud, very sturdy stem. Ideal for big single-colour bouquets from 25 stems up.
- White Dreamland — pure white, slightly matte. Neutral and elegant, perfect in mixed spring bouquets.
- Purple Flag — deep violet. A favourite for those seeking a colour beyond the red-yellow-white palette.
- Queensday — pink-orange bicolour. A decorative group with a slightly fuller bud.
- Black Hero — very dark purple, almost black, double tulip. An unexpected choice for the contemporary interiors of the centre.
Occasions and seasonality
The tulip is the flower of the Zurich spring. Mother's Day (the second Sunday of May) is its great fixture: a bouquet of tulips is a classic there. Before it come Valentine's Day and, in April, Easter and the city festival of Sechseläuten, when the Böögg is burned to see winter off. For offices and hotels in the centre, tulips in a vase are a regular habit from February to May.
The tulip is given by the single stem less often than the rose — the 15, 25, and 51-stem formats are more natural. In spring, armfuls mixing several colours do well: a few shades in one bouquet are more expressive than a single colour.
Freshness and logistics
The tulips in our catalogue are Dutch in origin, from the Aalsmeer and Royal FloraHolland auctions, and arrive through Swiss wholesalers. A refrigerated truck brings the lot to Zurich in about 24 hours, deeply chilled (+2…+4°C); the tulips arrive in closed bud. Ripening then happens at the recipient's — the usual practice, which keeps them fresher longer.
An important point for the Zurich climate: on mild, sunny days — and especially during a foehn — tulips open noticeably faster. For a large event order, take delivery the evening before rather than the morning of the day itself, especially if warm weather is forecast.
"The tulip is the most temperature-sensitive flower in our trade. In Zurich the spring is fickle: cold in the morning with the bise, and then the foehn comes in — within half a day the room is warm and dry, and the buds open before your eyes. For large orders I recommend delivery the day before, not the day of. And for Mother's Day, order early: it's one of the busiest weekends of the year."
— Thomas Huber, florist, Zurich, 12 years in the trade
Delivery specifics in Zurich
Zurich lies at the northern edge of the lake, around 410 m above sea level. The climate is temperate: winters hover around −1 to +5°C with occasional snow, and the bise — a cold, dry north-easterly — drives the feels-like down. Spring warms unevenly, with cold returns, while the foehn, a warm dry wind off the Alps, can heat the air within a few hours and speed the opening of tulips.
We deliver across Zurich: the Old Town and Niederdorf, Seefeld, Enge, Wollishofen, Wiedikon, Aussersihl, Oerlikon, Hottingen, Fluntern, Witikon, Höngg, Altstetten, Schwamendingen, as well as the Zürichberg and the Goldküste (Zollikon, Küsnacht). We take corporate orders for offices, restaurants, and hotels throughout the season. Payment is in Swiss francs (CHF). For Mother's Day and Easter, book 3–5 days ahead — demand for tulips climbs sharply on peak dates.
Care at home
Tulips keep growing in the vase — that's their quirk: the stems lengthen by 3–5 cm after they go in water. Cut at a 45° angle, remove the lower leaves, and change the water daily or every other day — tulips are very sensitive to bacteria in the water. A cool room at +15…+18°C extends their stand to 8–10 days.
Don't add anything unnecessary to the water — aspirin or a copper coin do worse than clean, cool water changed regularly. On mild, sunny days and during a foehn, keep the tulips in the coolest room, and at night in the refrigerator to slow the buds from opening.
