Floral Favourites - # 4 - Tulips

Latin or Botanical Name of Flower:
Tulipa

Common Name:
Tulip

Origin and Meaning of Name:
This bulbous perennial grow naturally in hot, dry habitats in Europe, Asia and the Middle East and were introduced into Europe in the 1500's.

The name is a Latinized version of tulbend, that means turban in Turkish.

Description:
Tulips are grown from bulbs and the goblet or bowl shaped upright flowers with six large petals sits at the top of straight stems. They have grey-green large linear leaves.

There are many different types of tulips, but the most common ones are - single and double early and late tulips, lily-flowering, fringed and parrot tulips.

Tulips comes in a wide variety of single, mixed and variegated colours.

Availability: 
Available as cut flowers mainly in the spring, but some tulips are also available during the winter months.

The tulip is also grown easily in a garden or in large pots.

Tulips are immensely popular as cut flowers and in Sweden and Holland they even have a Tulip Day in January.

Buy flowers that show colour in the buds.

Conditioning and Care:
Remove any leaves that would end up below the waterline in the vase. Cut the stems at an angle and place in a clean container of water. Keep cool until you have time to do the final arranging.

Change the water in the vase every day and as tulips are thirsty flowers keep the vase topped up with water. You might also want to consider re-cutting the stems if you want the arrangement to stay the same height. Store flowers in a cool place at night to keep them fresh. They last for about a week.

How to Use:
Tulips continue to grow in the vase and they also tend to reach and turn towards the light. Some people like the look of curved stems and other people like a more upright arrangement.

With this in mind choose your vase with care - short stems in a vase that supports the flowers - you will have a more compact arrangement. Leaving the stems long will give you a more natural look.

Tulips are very versatile and suits almost any occasion and any room in the house. They are a perfect flower for the dining table. A row of jars or bottles down the middle of the table is a charming display at spring time. 

Tulips are also an easy flower to bring as a gift for a party or a dinner invitation. 

Have a Great Floral Day!

See you back here very soon!

xoxo Ingrid

[All images: Styling and photography © Ingrid Henningsson for Of Spring and Summer]