Facts about tulips you didn’t know? Tulips are flowers of interest every spring, and during this season you can be sure to find an array of different varieties and colors of bloom in almost every grocery shop or flower shop.
Since most people love them, it’s not surprising that they plant these vibrant, cup-shaped blooms in their gardens, so they can enjoy the flowers every year.
As a gardener or tulip lover, you may know a lot of fundamental things about the plant, but there are certainly a few interesting facts about them, you didn’t know, keep reading this post to find out some things you didn’t about your favorite blooms.
Contents
Interesting Facts About Tulips You Didn’t Know.
1. History of the Name
The meaning of the name “Tulip” has been misinterpreted and diluted over time. The tulip flower first originated in Turkey, where it was considered a special flower because it was unique the way that it looked, and it soon became popular among the wealthy.
It was practically a symbol of status and wealth, and rich and important people added it to their gardens.
– Significance
Significant people, like the sultans, even added it to the top of their turbans to differentiate their wealth and class. The name “tulip” as we all know it to be today, has been translated from Latin, and some of its true meaning may have been lost in translation.
However, the name was derived from “Tulbend”, the Turkish word for turban, which was incidentally derived from the Dubland which was a Persian word, meaning round. It is said that the name was most likely chosen because most people believed the flower was shaped like a turban.
– True Origin
Yet again, some of the facts have been misinterpreted, as different cultures would bring their origin into the history. There’s a common belief that tulips originated in Holland, although this isn’t a fact, and it’s far from the truth, as some would claim.
In the late 1500s, tulips were exported from Great Britain to Holland, and now, one of the most recognizable images of Holland is the tulip flower, as they are one of the most popular countries that are known for this flower.
With this, it’s understandable how people have continuously assumed that tulips originally came from Holland. However, despite Holland being the country that produces the most tulip bulbs and blooms, the flower comes from Turkey, where it grows naturally, probably the wilder variety.
– Time of Inception
Tulips have been around for a very long time. They were first cultivated sometime around 1000AD before tulip mania started in the 16th century. Tulips remained popular and became increasingly cultivated in the 18th century; which was said to be the ‘Tulip Ra’ or ‘Age of Tulips’.
2. Tulip Varieties
Tulips are a member of the lily family or the Liliaceae. They come in bright warm hues of red, pink, white, and yellow. Like other ornamental flowers, there are several varieties of tulip flowers, that are over 3000 varieties around the world, all of which have some striking differences, and some common features.
New tulip cultivars are continuously developed; however, it takes a while, at least 20 years for each of them to reach the final consumer markets.
– Decoration Ideas
Tulips form gorgeous floral arrangements when they’re in their prime, no matter the color or the shade that you have chosen them.
The different varieties of tulip varieties bloom during three distinct periods; early spring, mid-spring, and late spring, and in these times, you would find the best ones for your arrangements. The exact dates may be different for various regions.
– Darwin Hybrid Tulips
Darwin Hybrid tulips are one of the most popularly cultivated species of tulips. These tulips are late bloomers (they bloom in mid to late spring) that are known for their strong stems and beautiful, and large blooming flowers. They spot red or orange colors and long stems, which makes them perfect for floral arrangements.
– Peony Tulips
These tulips are also popular in gardens and florist shops for their multiple petals, sometimes with double petals, that resemble peonies. They are usually two-toned, and as a result, they look perfect, grown in groups. Peony tulips are delicate and can be destroyed easily by strong winds or heavy rain.
3. Tulips Are Edible
Tulips can be eaten, just like many other flowers, and they won’t intoxicate you if you ingest them. The different parts of the flower or the plant that are eaten, are the colorful blooms and bulbs. In some dishes, the blossoms can be used to replace some key ingredients, and also be used to make juices or wine.
– History
The Netherlands experienced a severe winter from 1944 to 1945 that lasted for many months. As the German military continued to occupy the Netherlands, they imposed stringent food rationing and farming limitations as a means of retribution against the Dutch people for the government’s non-compliance.
The nation fell victim to “hunger winter”, a catastrophic famine, caused by a harsh extended winter, and lack of food supplies. It was at this period, which was during the World War II, that many people ate tulip and tulip bread as food when they couldn’t afford other meals.
Although the practice of eating these flowers with their roots in a terrible period of history, people eat them today as a way to celebrate the harvest season.
– Types of Dishes
Tulips belong to the same family as hyacinths and garlic or the alliums, so most varieties have similar flavors as them or taste like nothing. The petals can be added to salads for some extra crunch and flavor.
Tulips of particular varieties have distinct flavors. For example, French sorrel tulips have a powerful citrus flavor to dishes, while oak-leaf tulips add a touch of flavor similar to that of apples.
Also, they can be stuffed to make delicious appetizers. Several ingredients can be used to create this stuffed tulip dish. Additionally, their petals can be used to make meatballs or alcoholic beverages.
4. Significance and Meaning of the Colors
One major reason these beautiful flowers are well-liked is because of the colors of their blooms. Imagine receiving a bouquet of a different variety of these beautiful flowers, how do the colors make you feel?
Do they brighten up your mood? Of course, these different shades of tulip blooms affect people’s moods, and also have significant meanings and intriguing superstitions.
Tulips come in a variety of colors, from white, and light yellow, to pink and purple. However, the most common varieties are the ones with red blooms.
They’re the ones you can almost always get ready in florist shops. Tulips are typically associated with love and the beginning of spring.
– Red Tulips
Red is a romantic color, so it goes without saying that red tulips are romantic flowers. Which means that the red ones are the types of that you would want to give to your significant other, to whom you have a romantic interest in.
Their intense crimson tones arouse passion, love, and longing. As a result, they are popular among young couples. When you send someone red tulips, they can interpret it as “trust me” or “I love you”.
– Yellow Tulips
When you think yellow, what comes to mind is hope, happiness, joy, and enthusiasm. The same applies to yellow tulips. They represent happy ideas and are a symbol of joy, enthusiasm, and hope. Brightly colored yellow ones are the perfect gifts to express happiness.
Also, some people believe that if you plant yellow flowers in your front yard, you’re sure to attract luck and prosperity to yourself.
– Purple Tulips
Purple has always been associated with royalty, and elevation of value. Historically, only the affluent could afford to wear clothing dyed purple, because it was such a prized, and it was quite costly to dye.
It has since become a well-liked color that stands for elegance and grandeur. Buying someone purple tulips is practically akin to pulling out all the stops.
– White Tulips
White signifies purity, holiness, and honor. So, it’s not out of place to gift white ones to someone that has completed a religious milestone. Also, they can be used to issue apologies or send condolences.
In addition, note that some would also strongly believe that those who dream of white tulips are about to embark on a new beginning or fresh start in their lives, in short a new journey you are about to face.
5. Deep-colored Varieties
Some people are obsessed with unusual dark colors, and that’s fine. It’s most likely the love of dark colors and the appeal it brings that led gardeners to create darker tulip cultivars.
The white variety of these flowers can be found in a wide range of colors, they also produce blooms with darker hues, or sometimes even go a little creamy in the color. Dark-colored tulips have their special appeal.
– Example
There are no naturally occurring “black flowers”. However, there are dark colors that come close enough. Tulips that are dark, almost black, make gorgeous and dramatic arrangements.
One popular dark-colored variety is the “queen of the night” as it is a late flowering, silky maroon tulip. It is regarded as the darkest tulip on the market.
Other surprising dark-colored of the blooms are the ‘black parrot’ because they have deep purple petals and ‘Black hero’ variety are ones that have a very dark red or a maroon shade of petals.
6. Short-lasting Flowers
Tulips as cut flowers are beautiful to behold, and you ask yourself if you have ever received a bouquet of them?
The typical thing to do after receiving any sort of flowers is to put them in water, to make them last longer, even though they do not last very long. Their connection to the water mimics their normal growth habitat for a while and keeps them alive for a short duration.
It’s simpler than you think to keep your cut flowers looking nice and cheery. The cut version of the flowers will typically last between five and 12 days.
Of course, as long as they’re kept away from the sun, and they’re inside a vase filled with water because they’re strong water consumers. Basically, it is somewhat between five and twelve days long, which is a relatively short period.
In the garden, depending on the varieties of tulips you have planted, you can have blooms for several weeks each season. This is because the different varieties are categorized as early, mid-season, or late blooming.
Usually, the tiny varieties bloom first, then mid-season flowers like Darwin ones would bloom, and then varieties like parrot tulips bloom at the end of the season, putting on a dazzling display.
– Conditions for Best Bloom
To get the best out of your blooming plants, there are things you should put in place and conditions to meet. The first thing is to plant them as early as the fall season before the threat of frost arrives. They grow best when planted during this period, and produce spring blooms.
These flowers will produce the best blooms if they’re planted in a spot that receives full sunlight exposure. However, in extremely hot temperature zones, it’s best to grow them in a spot that will provide some afternoon shade, so that they don’t overheat and burn. In addition, they will grow well in fertile sandy soils that are well-drained and have a neutral to acidic pH.
– Bloom Season
Tulips will typically bloom or flower in spring. Several varieties can bloom in early spring, the middle of spring, or late spring. This blooming period is usually between March and May.
Conclusion
Tulips are beloved flowers for many reasons asides from their blooms. They have a fascinating history that demonstrates that they’re more than just pretty flowers, and learning about this will make your favorite flower appear more unique.
We’ve said many things in this article, to recap:
- Tulips are originally from Turkey, and not Holland as people often think.
- There are over 3000 varieties of beautiful tulips around the world; all of which have distinct characteristics and bloom several times in the year.
- Their petals and bulbs can be eaten, added to meals, and used to make alcoholic beverages.
- The flower’s colors have meanings behind them, and some people can be superstitious about them.
Now, anytime you buy or plant them, you can enjoy their beauty and uniqueness with a new outlook.
References
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279350010_Tulip
- https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://amsterdamtulipmuseumonline.com/blogs/tulip-facts/origin-of-the-word-tulip%23:~:text%3DThe%2520modern%2520name%2520for%2520Tulip,thought%2520to%2520resemble%2520a%2520turban.&ved=2ahUKEwiosd-gysX7AhWliP0HHaF6BoIQFnoECAwQBQ&usg=AOvVaw0GNxqK7LFD8c6ah8DBpzP_
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