Tulips pop up all over Washington DC each spring, usually right after the cherry blossoms finish. Tulips in DC typically start blooming in early to mid-April, right as the cherry blossoms are fading. Peak color usually lasts about 2 to 3 weeks, with some late-blooming varieties holding into late April depending on the weather.
Here are my favorite spots to find and photograph tulips around Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
Here are the best places to see tulips in Washington DC:
- 1. Tulips around the US Capitol
- 2. Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial Tulips
- 3. Floral Library Tulips
- 4. National Gallery of Art Tulips
- 5. Netherlands Carillon Tulips
- 6. Enid A. Haupt Garden Tulips at the Smithsonian Castle
- 7. Tulips at Franciscan Monastery Garden
- 8. Tulips at Omni Shoreham Hotel
- 9. Tulips at Lafayette Park
- 10. Brookside Gardens in Maryland
- 11. Burnside Farms Tulip Field in Virginia
1. Tulips around the US Capitol
Tulips are planted all around the grounds of the United States Capitol. Since the Capitol dome is so large, it’s easy to frame photos with the tulips. You can find tulips planted on the east and west of the building, along with some in planters on the north and south sides.
I love the range of colors the tulips at the Capitol offer. It’s well worth walking around the entire property to see the variety of tulips.
2. Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial Tulips
One of my favorite places to see tulips in DC are at the Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial. Located on the Potomac river the memorial offers an incredible view of sunrise. Best of all it is surrounded by beautiful red tulips.
The tulip field around the Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial are quite large and well worth a visit, especially since it’s overlooked.
Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial on Google Maps3. Floral Library Tulips
Of course one of the best places to see tulips in Washington DC is the Floral Library. Established in 1969 by Lady Bird Johnson the flower garden often has tulips blooming in spring. Typically you’ll find the tulips blooming after the cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin. The Floral Library has 93 flower beds that are planted by the National Park Service. You’ll find the Floral Library right on the Tidal Basin making it the perfect spot to frame the Washington Monument.
4. National Gallery of Art Tulips
There aren’t many tulips in front of the National Gallery of Art West building but they are worth a visit especially if you’re already on the National Mall. You can angle your camera to get the US capitol in the background of your tulip photos or use a macro lens to get close up pictures of the tulips.
National Gallery of Art on Google Maps5. Netherlands Carillon Tulips
While Netherlands Carillon offers a great view of the DC skyline in the distance it’s also home to tulips in the spring. If you want the best photo of the DC skyline from here you’ll need a telephoto lens. The tulip fields are the perfect portrait opportunity or you can include the Netherlands Carillon in your photo.
Netherlands Carillon on Google Maps6. Enid A. Haupt Garden Tulips at the Smithsonian Castle
Tulips bloom in the middle of the Enid A. Haupt Garden at the Smithsonian Castle on the National Mall. Planted in a unique diagonal pattern the tulips here are well worth visiting. Plus you can capture them with the Smithsonian Castle in the background.
Enid A. Haupt Garden on Google Maps7. Tulips at Franciscan Monastery Garden
The Franciscan Monastery Gardens in Washington DC are known for their colorful tulip displays. You’ll enjoy plenty of color as thousands of tulips bloom throughout the gardens in the spring months.
Franciscan Monastery Garden on Google Maps8. Tulips at Omni Shoreham Hotel
The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC has tulip gardens on its 11-acre grounds that bloom each spring. The hotel sits in a park-like setting in Woodley Park, and the tulips are planted in formal garden beds. Check with the hotel ahead of time to confirm garden access if you’re not a guest.
Omni Shoreham Hotel on Google Maps9. Tulips at Lafayette Park
Lafayette Park sits directly across from the White House and is planted with colorful tulips each spring. The park is small, so it’s easy to walk through in a few minutes, but the combination of tulips with the White House in the background makes it one of the more photogenic stops on this list.
Lafayette Park on Google Maps10. Brookside Gardens in Maryland
Located north of DC Brookside Gardens has an impressive tulip collection. The garden is free to visit and has plenty of colorful tulips to see. It’s also worth walking around the Japanese style garden when you’re there as well.
Brookside Gardens on Google Maps11. Burnside Farms Tulip Field in Virginia
You’ll have to pay to enter Burnside Farms but they offer a massive tulip field that you can even pick flowers to take home! Check their website for more details about pricing and hours.
Tips for Photographing DC Tulips
- Shoot during golden hour. Early morning light makes tulip colors glow, and you’ll avoid the midday crowds at popular spots like the Capitol and Floral Library.
- Get low. Some of the best tulip photos are taken from ground level, shooting across the tops of the flowers toward a monument or building in the background.
- Bring a macro lens or zoom lens. Close-up shots of individual tulips with a blurred background are just as strong as wide shots of the full field.
- Check bloom status before you go. Tulip timing varies by a week or two each year. The National Park Service’s social media accounts and local DC photography groups on Instagram are good sources for real-time bloom updates.
- Visit multiple spots in one day. Most of the DC locations on this list are within a short drive or Metro ride of each other. You can easily hit the Capitol, Floral Library, and National Gallery of Art in a single morning.
Wrapping Up
DC’s tulip season is short but worth planning around. The blooms typically peak in early to mid-April and last into late April, and the best displays are at the US Capitol, the Floral Library on the Tidal Basin, and the Navy Merchant Marine Memorial. If you’re willing to drive a bit, Burnside Farms in Virginia offers a pick-your-own experience you won’t find in the city. For more places to photograph in the area, check out my full guide to Washington DC photo spots.
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I hope you enjoyed my list of tulips in Washington DC. There are plenty of other smaller areas in DC with tulips including: Farragut Square, Shaw Skate Park & Banneker High School, National Cathedral, Bartholdi Fountain at the U.S. Botanic Garden, National Arboretum, and the Pablo Benito Juarez Memorial.
If there is anything I missed let me know in the comments below!
Looking for more to see in DC? Check out my list of Washington DC photo spots.
When I was 11 (I am now 66), my brother was stationed near Washington D.C., being in the USMC and a guard over President Nixon. My mother, father, another brother and myself visited him and his wife and 2 kids in April of 1969. He took us all around Washington D.C. sightseeing all of the beautiful places there to see. I remember seeing the statue of the Raising of the Flag at Iwo Jima, The White House, The Washington Monument, The Lincoln Memorial, The Pentagon and lots of other landmarks. One thing that stands out in my mind that I remember is a field of red, white and blue tulips, the size of a football field. I think it was near the statue of Iwo Jima. It was absolutely gorgeous and stands out in my mind as one of the beautiful sites we saw. It happened to be a year when the tulips AND the beautiful Cherry Blossom trees were in full bloom. The most beautiful and memorable weekend of my life. I found this page looking for any pics. of this beautiful time when the tulips were planted in the shape of the flag. I wonder if anyone has seen this before many years ago. It was so wonderful to see.
Wow! Added to my (VERY LONG, THANK YOU MUCH) list in DC 😂
Come to DC in the spring! One of the best times to come to the city.