Tulips

Tulips are a sure sign of spring. Their bright and colorful cup-shaped flowers signal sunny days are on the way and all the plants and wildlife will be waking up from their winter slumbers. Our love affair with these bulb flowers dates back hundreds of years, when tulips were so desirable that they actually caused an economic bubble. Since then tulips have been a popular choice for gifts, have been the subject of famous paintings, and have taken on the meaning of unconditional love. Shop Kremp Florist on any spring day, and you will be able to secure some beautiful tulips for yourself or someone you care about.

The Science Behind Tulips

Tulips belong to a genus of flowering plants called Tulipa. They are members of the lily family (Liliaceae), but their classification has long been controversial since there are many variations on the flower. There are about 75 species of tulips, and extensive breeding programs have produced thousands of hybrids and cultivars.

Tulips are perennial bulb flowers, and up to four new plants may emerge each year from a ‘mother bulb.’ The bulbs will first sprout blade-like leaves, followed by a taller, fleshy stem. Atop each stem you will find a single tulip flower that is made up of 6 petals that form a cup shape. The flowers come in many hues like red, pink, yellow, white, orange, purple, lavender, and peach. Tulips flower in the spring, but by summer expect their flowers and leaves to be dried up and dormant. Their dried flowers will drop seeds, producing more flowers in the wild.

One of the most interesting characteristics of tulip flowers is their ability to grow after being cut from their stems. Scientists attribute this to the plant’s abundance of the hormone auxin. Auxin causes stems to elongate, and also plays a role in phototropism where flowers turn and grow towards light. A vase of cut tulips may continue to elongate about an inch per day, and the flowers will likely turn towards the brightest natural light in the room.

Tulips Native Habitat

Tulips are native to Southern Europe and Central Asia, where they grow on steppes and mountains in temperate climates. However, the flowers have a long history of cultivation outside their natural habitat, dating all the way back to the gardens of Constantinople in 1055. Some credit the tulip’s introduction to Europe to Ogier de Busbecq, the Holy Roman Empire’s ambassador to Turkey. Busbecq is rumored to have sent tulip seeds to Vienna in 1554.

Tulip Mania

No one knows for sure whether or not Busbecq was responsible for introducing tulips to the West, but we do know that tulips surged in popularity in Europe in the 1600s, creating what is known as Tulip Mania. The Netherlands experienced this phenomenon in the 1630s when the demand for tulips skyrocketed, and their price heavily outweighed their actual value. Between 1636-1637, speculators traded contracts for tulips just like today’s stockbrokers trade stocks. No actual plants were exchanged, and the price bubble burst when buyers defaulted and could not pay the previously agreed prices for the plants. Although many claim that the bubble did not dramatically affect the Dutch economy, Tulip Mania is notable as the first asset bubble in history, a precursor to crises like the housing bubble of 2008.

Fresh Tulip Flower Arrangements and Bulb Gardens

Kremp Florist supplies beautiful fresh cut tulips, and bulb gardens brimming with live tulip plants. Early spring brings these colorful specimens into the flower shop. Tulip plants are usually available in 4”, 6” or 8” pots. Each plant is accented with decorative ribbons and moss and placed in a unique container. Or, tulip plants can be designed with other blooming bulbs in a basket or planter. Tulips pair well with daffodils, hyacinths, and Easter lilies.

In addition to live plants, Kremp Florist also stocks the freshest cut tulips throughout the spring. One of the florist’s most popular designs contains tulips in their many colors arranged in a glass vase with greens and small accent flowers. Ask for 10-, 20-, or 30- stems of these spring flowers to be artfully arranged and delivered to your recipient. With the symbolic meaning of unconditional love, tulips are the perfect gift for your favorite family members, your children, or best friend.