Some do some do not. I find Darwin tulips the most reliable returners followed by species tulips. It is common to read that tulips should be allowed to die down then dug up and dried off until it is time to plant them again. I never do that. The bulbs are not expensive unless you are buying a new variety or named varieties which are in short supply.

Most of mine don't flower again although some come up every year. I don't bother feeding them now either. Species do as Scotsgran says, and Carol on Gardeners World last week, said that the Darwin ones are the most reliable. That's twice I've seen that in the space of a week. Always something new to learn. I've bought some expensive tulips in the past but it doesn't seem to make any difference how much they cost.

Some come back every year and spread, some come up measly and small and some don't come back at all. I think it must depend on the variety.

I agree with the above most of mine do come back every year though I do feed them as the bud develops from the bulb. apparently the setting of the flower takes place through the 'dormant' stage. we had a talk by a tulip specialist so I was surprised to learn that it was temp dependent.

If you look at the weather conditions where Tulips originally come from, they developed to withstand a hot dry summer. We grow them in a place where the Summers are often warm and wet. The reason why many of them are dug up is so that they may be properly dried out and baked instead of sitting in cool damp soil. You know the answer then, grow them in a hot dry situation!

Thanks for all your replies, the reason I asked was that I planted about 2 dozen last year and they look great all with lovely shapes and colours and I'm thinking about adding to them next year as they've brightened up some areas unexpectedly.

Our Queen of the Night ones came up and flowered every year and increased in numbers too. That is until the badgers dug them up and ate them.

my queen of the night and Ballerina have been coming back in their pots for the last 4 years. really impressed with them. many of my gardening group just chuck them out, such a waste.

Unless your soil is naturally sandy, I would mix in some coarse sand or grit, since Tulips do like a dryish summer. Deep planting (15-20 cm deep) also helps, since strong variations in soil temperature cause them to break up into small, non-blooming bulblets.