Queen of Night, christened in 1944, is still considered a top contender for the title of "blackest" tulip, although its color is actually a deep, velvety maroon. This single, late tulip is prized for the classic tulip shape of a rectangular cup with petals that are flat across the top.

Queen of Night is a superb cut flower and has a height of 22 to 30 inches. Plant them in large groupings with pastel colored tulips and light colored pansies for a dramatic effect.

Angelique is one of my personal favorites. This variety, introduced in 1959, features a blush-pink peony-flowered blossom. One of its outstanding qualities is its long-lasting blooms. This double late tulip grows to 18-inches tall. It has a light rose fragrance and combines beautifully with the deep green or purple foliage of Heuchera. It also makes a perfect complement to "black" tulips, such as Queen of Night.

Ballerina is considered to be a near perfect lily-flowered tulip. It was introduced in 1980 and is still near the top of the list in popularity. The elegant flowers have long, lily-pointed petals in a slim blossom. The luminous tangerine orange-colored blossoms come on long willowy stems.

Because the plants are tall, they should be planted in a protected area. They are a wonderful addition to any cut-flower garden and bloom late in the season.

Purissima is known as White Emperor Tulip. It is a Fosteriana tulip, a type originally found in the mountainous areas of Central Asia. Purissima is tall, averaging 18 inches, and like all Fosterianas, it has large elongated milky-white flowers and broad leaves.

For best results, plant these in large drifts for early spring color. The early season tulips are best for beds, borders and rock gardens. They are not particularly good cut flowers.

While these are a few suggestions, they are only a few of the hundreds of varieties available.

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Larry A. Sagers is the regional horticulturist, Utah State University Extension at Thanksgiving Point.