Tulips pop all over Washington DC and are the popping off point for spring. Typically tulips in the DMV bloom after the cherry blossoms are finished leaving the trees. This means tulips in DC typically bloom in mid-April.
There are plenty of great places to see tulips around Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. In this post I’ll be going over my favorite places to photograph tulips in DC.
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 Maps
3. 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 Maps
5. Netherlands Carillon Tulips
While Netherlands Carillon offers a stunning 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 Maps
6. 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 Maps
7. Tulips at Franciscan Monastery Garden
The Franciscan Monastery Gardens in Washington DC are renowned for their stunning 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 Maps
8. Tulips at Omni Shoreham Hotel
The Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington DC is known for its breathtaking tulip garden that bloom each spring. Visitors can enjoy a vibrant display of colors as they wander through the garden and take in the beautiful surroundings.
Omni Shoreham Hotel on Google Maps
9. Tulips at Lafayette Park
If you’re near the White House you’ll want to check out the tulips at Lafayette Park.
10. Brookside Gardens in Maryland
Located north of DC Brookside Gardens offers a stunning 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 Maps
11. 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.
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PinI 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.
