Deep in the ground, they defy the winter. Tulips proudly rise from March to herald the approaching spring with magnificent blooms. This profile conveys the attributes that characterize the enchanting bulb flowers.
Tulips open their brightly colored flowers as early as March
systematics and appearance
Myths and legends surround tulips. This is hardly surprising given its beauty and radiance, which has fascinated us for centuries. The following profile conveys the botanical properties that give rise to their nimbus:
- Botanical name: Tulipa
- Plant family of the lily family (Liliaceae)
- More than 150 species with many thousands of varieties
- Herbaceous, perennial flowering plant with onions as the outlasting organ
- Growth heights from 10 to 70 cm
- Upright stems with 4 to 6 lanceolate, green leaves
- Flowers with 6 petals, 6 anthers and a strong style
- Flowering time from March to May, depending on the species and variety
- Elongated fruit capsules with numerous seeds in summer
- Toxic in all parts
The toxic content is primarily concentrated in the tulip bulbs in the form of tuliposides, which can irritate the stomach and skin. While consuming the poisonous onions in large quantities is discouraged, the colorful petals are edible and serve as food decorations in modern cuisine.
Naturally easy to care for
The characteristics presented in the profile produce a flower with minimal maintenance requirements. Thanks to their strong bulbs, tulips control growth, flowering and overwintering almost independently. From the time of planting in autumn, you as a gardener only take on these assisting tasks:
- Fertilize organically every 2 weeks from February to May
- Water only if it has been dry for a long time
- Cut off flowers promptly to avoid exhausting seed growth
The most important measure in the care program is pruning at the right time. Give the tulips enough time to transfer all the nutrients from the foliage to the interior of the bulb. Based on this energy reserve, it will sprout again next spring, followed by flowering.
tips
In the Middle Ages, enthusiasm for tulips made waves. During the tulip mania of the early 1630s, tulip lovers shelled out astronomical sums for a single bulb. A whopping 17,280 guilders were paid for a single Rembrandt tulip bulb in 1637. In comparison, a craftsman earned 250 guilders a year.