Flowers and plants

Tulip

   Tulipa Liliaceae, herbaceous plant, bulb

The tulip is a flower with a rich history. People see it as a typical Dutch flower, even as the National flower. The roots of the tulip we can find in the East, probably in Iran or Turkey. There are many publications about the  tulip. In 1554 in Western Europe first articles we can find about it. Around 1560 the first  tulips came to flowering in Europe. Around 1570 the tulip arrived in the Netherlands. We think because of the famous botanist Carolus Clusius. In the Renaissance gardens tulips became a beloved plant and became a symbol of status. Also during the Baroque the tulip was popular. In gardens many varieties shown their exciting flowers and colors. Around 1600 - 1637 in the Netherlands the rich became crazy about tulips and a complete madness started, we called it in Dutch tulpomania. The bulbs were sold for absurd high prices. The most expensive bulb cost in that time dlf 4600,- (2090 Euro) (to the value of money in that time).  

In the era of the King of France, Lodewijk fourtienth, tulips are used by the ladies as decoration of their beautiful dresses. Fresh tulips create an abundant and precious decoration on the decolleté of the dress. The tulip is used in Holland in many decorative ways. We see them as wall stone on some houses, as art price, as fence decoration, as doorknob, as logo, in painting- and in sculpturing.

The tulip can have very easy new varieties and because of this the number of species increased quickly. Also the colors and the variation in shapes increased.
Tulips grow very good in the garden and some species are to use for a wild garden too. The best time to plant is in autumn, October and November. They come about 8 cm. deep in the soil and about 10 cm from each other. If we want to keep the bulbs in the soil we must plant them deeper, about 15 till 20 cm. Tulips will flower by nature in the Dutch gardens in April.

Tulips are also suitable for flowering in the house or in a glass house. In fact we can let them flower all 12 month of the year. With the knowledge of today this is easy.

As cut flower the tulip is very successful and many love to have them in a vase or flower arrangement. Many varieties are available. The vase life is between 5 and 7 days. A clean vase, clean water and a special tulip Chrysal improves the quality and beauty of the tulip.

Exhibitions with many tulips:

• Keukenhof

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Last update of this page 23.05.2004