tulppaani

Tulppaani (Finnish for tulip) refers to the genus Tulipa, a group of flowering plants in the lily family cultivated for spring decoration. The genus Tulipa includes about 75 wild species and thousands of cultivars. Native to a broad Eurasian belt from southern Europe to Central Asia, tulips are now grown in temperate regions worldwide. They are bulbous perennials with erect stems, linear leaves, and often large, brightly colored flowers in spring.

Flowers have six petal-like tepals and occur singly on tall stems. Colors include red, pink, yellow, white, orange, purple, and bi-colors; many cultivars feature single or double blossoms and various shapes, including cup, fringed, or peony-like forms. The most common garden tulips are hybrids from Tulipa gesneriana.

Taxonomy varies by system, but Tulipa resides in the lily family; some classifications place it in Liliaceae, others in a broader Asparagaceae grouping within Liliales.

In cultivation, bulbs are planted in autumn in well-drained soil with full sun. They typically require a period of winter cold to bloom well. After flowering, allow foliage to feed the bulb, then lift and store bulbs in dry, cool conditions where summers are hot. Breeding has produced many garden groups (for example, Darwin hybrids, Triumphs, and Parrot tulips).

Tulips have symbolic and economic significance, notably during the 17th-century Dutch tulip mania and as a landmark spring ornamental plant today. Bulbs and leaves contain compounds that can be toxic if ingested, so handling with care is advised.