tulp

Tulp is the Dutch name for the flowering plant genus Tulipa, a group of bulbous perennials grown primarily for decorative flowers. Native to a broad region from Central Asia to the Near East, tulips were introduced to Europe in the 16th century; the Netherlands became a leading center for their cultivation, trading, and breeding, helping to popularize the flower worldwide.

Tulips produce a single flower on a leafless stem, typically with six petal-like tepals. The leaves are long and slender, and each bulb stores nutrients for seasonal growth. In temperate climates, they require a cold winter to bloom and prefer well-drained soil and full sun. They are grown from bulbs or tiny offsets and come in many colors and patterns.

Taxonomically, Tulipa comprises about 75 species and thousands of cultivars. The genus is placed in the order Liliales, and in modern classifications is usually assigned to the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Lilioideae. Major cultivated groups include Darwin Hybrid, Triumph, Lily-flowered, and species tulips.

Historically, tulips captured European imagination in the 17th century, culminating in tulip mania in the Dutch Republic. The bulb trade spurred economic speculation and exchange of varieties with Ottoman and Persian sources. Today, the tulip remains a global ornamental plant, emblematic of spring and of Dutch horticultural heritage, and a staple of public gardens, private beds, and cut-flower arrangements.