The Tulip Flower

The is one of the world's most easily recognized and loved flowers. The meanings of tulips coupled with the immediately identifiable shape of their colorful blooms make them a comfortable flower choice. They are not too elegant, too romantic, too big, too small, or too bright; the tulip is always just right. They are like a favorite pair of jeans or your mom's fresh-baked cookies in that the meanings of tulips express genuine coziness and comfort in all of the right ways.

Facts about Tulips

· There are now over 3,000 different registered varieties of cultivated Tulips.

· Every year billions of Tulips are cultivated, a majority of which are grown and exported from Holland.

· Historically, Europe considered Tulips as the symbol of the Ottoman Empire.

· Tulips grow wild over a great territory from Asia Minor through Siberia to China.

· Tulips were first cultivated and hybridized by the Turks of the Ottoman Empire.

· Tulips symbolise imagination, dreaminess, perfect lover, and a declaration of love.

· Fresh out of onions? Use your Tulip bulbs instead! Tulip bulbs are a good replacement for onions in cooking.

Classification of Tulips

The following classification of Tulips is based on the time of bloom. Tulips can be divided into early, mid, and late season flowering Tulips.

· Early Flowering Tulips:-These Tulips bloom in March and early April. Early Flowering Tulips are Species Tulips, Kaufmanniana (eg., Waterlily), Fosteriana (eg.,Red Emperor), Single Early(eg., Apricot Beauty ), Double Early, Greigii Tulips etc.

· Midseason Flowering Tulips:- These bloom in April and early may. Eg., Triumph, Swan Wings Tulip, Darwin Hybrids, Parrot Tulips.

· Late Flowering Tulips:- These Tulips bloom in May. Eg., Single Late, Double Late, Viridiflora Tulips, Lily-Flowered, Fringed Tulips, Rembrandt Tulips, Multi Flowering Tulips.

How to grow Tulips

Tulips are very easy to grow. Many people design an artistic, colorful layout for the Tulip blooms.

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Select the location for planting.

· Prepare the soil by working it well, removing rocks, and weeds.

· Mix in plenty of organic material and fertilizer.

· Special bulb formulas and bone meal work best.

· The Tulips will bloom in almost any soil, with a good drainage.

· When buying Tulip bulbs, select only the finest quality bulbs. In general the bigger the bulb, the bigger the bloom.

· Follow the directions from the supplier for spacing and depth. If no directions are included, plant the bulbs 6-8" apart, and at a depth twice the diameter of the bulb.

· After the Tulips bloom, let the plant continue to grow until it dies off. During the post bloom period, the plant sends energy to the bulb to store for use next spring.

· Tulips require a period of cold while they are dormant and resting between shows.