Tulip breaking virus is one of five plant viruses that cause both tulips and lilies to have a different petal color effect, such as stripes or flames on an otherwise single color flower. "Tulip breaking virus" is in the same virus group as "Tulip top-breaking virus (TTBV), Tulip bandbreaking virus (TBBV), Rembrandt tulip-breaking virus (ReTBV)" and "Lily mottle virus (LMoV)" but they are all considered different viruses. "Tulip breaking virus" can come in two forms: Severe tulip breaking virus and mild tulip breaking virus. Severe tulip breaking virus can cause lighter colors to appear on tulips, whereas mild tulip breaking virus tends to cause darker colors to appear.