Tulips originate from Iran, Afghanistan and Kazakhstan. The flower travelled through Turkey to the Netherlands, the country with which the flower is particularly associated with nowadays. The tulip mania of the 16th century (when a tulip bulb was worth as much as a canal-side house in Amsterdam) may have passed, but many people still gain instant pleasure from this  flower. This is undoubtedly linked to the spring fever that tulips evoke.

Colours and shapes of the tulip 

Tulips come in white, red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, green or with  multi-coloured petals. Consumers also have plenty of choice in terms of shape.  There are tulips with a single or double row of petals, eye-catching fringed and parrot tulips with serrated petals and the elegant lily tulip.

Care tips

These care tips will enable your customers to enjoy tulips for between five and twelve days:

• Trim the stems diagonally.
• Choose  a vase tall enough: tulips drink a lot and grow several centimetres.
• Place the tulips in paper or film in the vase for an hour first. The tulips will then suck up lots of water and will straighten themselves out.
• Use tap water at room temperature.
• Place the vase in a cool position out of the sun and away from the fruit bowl, as fruit give off a ripening hormone called Ethylene, that will cause the flowers to age quicker.

How to make a tulip bouquet

You can make an impression with a bouquet of tulips made solely from different colours of tulips. But tulips also do well when combined with other cut flowers. For example, try combining tulips with flowers such as hyacinths, limonium and anemones for a surprising cheerful effect.

Tulip symbolism

Although not many people realise it, the tulip also has symbolic meanings. Red tulips mean passionate love and with black tulips you are saying: “I love you so much that I will sacrifice everything.” Source: BBH