tulip

Tulips are perennial, bulbous flowering plants in the genus Tulipa. They belong to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Lilioideae. Most varieties produce a single flower on a leafless stem, with six petal-like segments forming a cup-shaped bloom. Leaves are long and sword-shaped, and the plant grows from true bulbs.

Native to a region spanning Central Asia to Turkey, tulips have been cultivated for centuries and are now grown worldwide as garden ornamentals and cut flowers.

Tulips require a cold winter period for flowering. They are typically planted in autumn and bloom in spring. There are many cultivars with a broad color spectrum and various flower forms, including single, double, and fringed types.

The name tulip derives from Turkish tulbend (turban) or Persian dulband, referring to the flower’s shape. Tulips became a symbol of wealth and refined taste in the Ottoman Empire and later in the Netherlands, which remains a leading producer and exporter of tulip bulbs. The period of exuberant tulip speculation in the Dutch Golden Age, known as Tulip Mania, is a well-known historical episode.

In cultivation, well-drained soil and sunny positions are preferred. After flowering, allow foliage to die back to nourish the bulb; in some climates bulbs are lifted and stored to avoid summer rot. Pests and diseases include aphids, thrips, and bulb rot.