Flower of the Month January: the Tulip
Origin and characteristics
Tulips originate from the Middle East. Before their introduction into Europe in the 16th century, they were cultivated and bred in Iran and Turkey. Nowadays, nearly all hybrid flower bulbs come from Holland.
The Tulip’s special charm is that they keep growing once they’re cut and gain an inch in height or even more. But they are also known as the flowers that dance in your vase! This occurs as the stems grow upward, the large flower heads respond and grow towards the light. The flowers open wide during the day and close at night.
Unknown Tulip facts
You might have heard about the abovementioned characteristics before. However, we are pretty sure that you were not aware of the following Tulip facts. Did you know that…
- Tulips and Lilies belong to the same family? They are both members of the Liliaceae family.
- Tulip bulbs used to be more valuable than gold in the 17th Century in Holland? During this ‘Tulip Mania‘ tulips became so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency. Which is pretty odd considering that the vase life of a tulip is only 3 to 7 days.
- Daffodils and Tulips are not a great combination? The sap of Daffodils is toxic to cut Tulips, so do not store or display them in the same container.
- Red tulips symbolise impetuous love and black tulips mean: ‘I love you so much, I want to sacrifice everything for you’. Quite romantic, isn’t it?
