The Wonderful World of Tulips

First, let us dispense with the commonly held view that tulips originated in Holland. While Holland might be famous throughout the world for their excellent varieties and colors, the tulip was imported from the Middle East, and the name comes from the Turkish for turban.

The reason that Holland is so closely associated with tulips is that they became so popular in the 17th Century that people were forever trading the bulbs, mixing varieties and trying to create new ones.

In fact, Dutch tulips are now grown in great quantities and exported to all over the world, and are also the third best selling plant in Holland itself. Other countries where tulips are very popular include the UK, where their easy growing and robust nature make them a favorite with home gardeners and professionals alike.

Tulip Varieties and Colors

Some tulip beds are a blaze of color, while others are grown to intricate designs including some renditions of famous works of art. The variety of styles and colors means that they are perfect for show gardens, especially since they are one of the most compact and regular flowering plant – each one tends to look rather similar to its’ neighbors, which cannot be said of many other species.

Tulips are available in every color except black and blue. There are deep purples that are almost black, and some varieties which are tending towards blue, but true blue and black tulips do not exist.

While many tulips are of the traditional shape and color, there are some which have slightly more exotic shape and color combinations. The Siam tulip, for example, is shorter in the flower, and has more petals than a common tulip. It also exists in two and even three color varieties which will give an otherwise straightforward tulip bouquet a dash of the exotic.

By a similar token, the Parrot tulip has feathery petals which give the flower a more delicate aspect than the common, straight and pointed petals of the common or Siam tulip varieties. Parrot tulips come in a variety of interesting colors, including the so-called Blue Parrot, which is a light purple in color.

Another mis-named tulip is the Black Parrot, which is a dark red, so dark that the edges are actually black in color. The Fantasy variety is a lighter red, with dark red or black edges around some of the petals, which gives a less imposing overall effect, whilst still looking more interesting than a common tulip.

Others in the same kind of vein are the Texas gold (yellow and black), Orange Favorite, and Rocco. They are each dual color, but the Rocco can sometimes grow with green bases to the petals, adding a third color to the overall effect.

Tulip Cultivation

Tulips are easy to cultivate, and flower according to climate zone and variety. Early blooming varieties will bloom in March, mid-season flowering varieties in April, and late flowering varieties in May. Of course, this will change depending on which climatic zone they are planted in, hence, the availability of cut tulips for bouquets will change depending on the season.

They can also be easily cultivated indoors in a pot, and there are many exotic varieties which will make excellent potted flowers for display around the house. Many florists will also sell them in a little basket with some other plants, such as variegated ivy or other low-growing or trailing greenery. These can make excellent gifts for would-be gardeners, or those who do not have the space for a large tulip bed.

By and large, however one can be fairly sure that if a bouquet is required for a springtime occasion such as Valentines day, Mother’s day or Easter, then tulips can play an integral part. In fact, the red and pink varieties used to be a symbol of romance in much the same way that roses are considered to be today.

Tulips for Every Occasion

Depending on exactly what occasion is being catered for, a tulip bouquet can be created that is suitable for both the recipient and the event. Some online florists will even allow you to specify the exact mix of flowers that you require.

So, for a Valentines day gift, one might opt for red tulips, some smaller, white flowers to offset them, possibly even with a white rose or two. This should all be mixed with some greenery just to give the bouquet volume. There is the danger that some varieties of tulips can appear lost inside an extravagant bouquet, and to avoid this florists tend to add more delicate, expensive flowers to support them.

For a fresh Easter bouquet, yellow tulips, perhaps some dual colored varieties with an orange or red component, mixed with other colors such as purple, against a backdrop of greenery, perhaps delivered in a reusable basket will make an excellent and durable gift.

For Mother’s day, a tulip bouquet based around delicate pinks might be appropriate. Here, there is some leeway as to the exact mix of colors that can be used, but it is usually wise to remain with pastels – pinks, lilacs, pale yellows and so forth. A good flower to mix these in with would probably be from the daffodil or narcissus families.

Caring for Cut Tulips

Tulips will happily survive in a vase for over a week, once opened. The trick to longer lasting flowers is to try and make sure that they are just showing color; this way they will slowly open over time, and provide that feel good bouquet feeling for a little longer.

Ordering online might make this difficult, however, and when the recipient calls you to thank you for your gift, you might like to try passing on a few tips on tulip care so that their bouquet lasts for as along as possible.

One of the first problems that people usually find with tulips is that they have quite heavy flowers, and will tend to bend over as they curve towards light. Most indoor light comes from windows, rather than directly above, and so the overall movement will tend to be down, rather than up.

While it is said that dropping a coin into the water will force the tulips to grow closer to the vertical, a much better remedy is to tie them together near the base of the flower to prevent them curving. If this is not convenient, then simply pacing them underneath an artificial light source for a few hours, and they should correct themselves accordingly.

Since they also come from bulbs, it might be a good idea to consider sending a pack of replacement bulbs to the lucky recipient of your tulip bouquet too, as reminder of the bouquet once it has faded. Most online florists will be able to supply bulbs of good quality, and they do make an excellent additional gift.

One final point to note is that tulips tend to have a short stem. This means that, when cut (and re-cut whenever the water is changed), the tulip will usually be shorter than other kinds of flower. For this reason, it might be an idea to buy a new vase for the lucky recipient, since they might not have an appropriate one themselves.
 

About the Author:

Guy Lecky Thompson is a successful freelance writer offering guidance and suggestions for consumers regarding Flowers, Spring flowers, Tulips, Roses, Tropical and Exotic flowers and Gift Baskets. His many articles give information and tips to help people save money and make smarter decisions.
 

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