Tulips: meaning, types and how to keep them

Not really a Dutch flower

The tulip (Tulipa) is a wildflower of Central Asia, and it was the gardeners of the Ottoman Empire who first fussed over it. It reached Europe in the 1500s and landed in the Netherlands, where bulb prices went wild in the 1630s in the episode known as tulip mania. Dutch growers still dominate the trade, but Australia has its own tulip culture: Canberra’s Floriade and the Tulip Time festival in Bowral both fall in spring.

Bulbs that expect a cold start

Tulips come from regions with cold winters and dry summers, which makes them awkward in much of the country. In Melbourne, Canberra, Hobart and the highlands, bulbs are planted in autumn, around April and May, for flowers in September and October. In warmer places such as Sydney and Brisbane, growers chill the bulbs in the fridge for several weeks first, and many treat the display as a one-season flower. In the tropical north they are not a garden plant at all.

What the colours mean

• Red: declared love, a fresher alternative to the red rose.
• Yellow: cheerful thoughts and sunshine, popular for spring birthdays and Easter tables.
• White: forgiveness and fresh starts, and a favourite for saying sorry.
• Pink: caring and affection, ideal for a mother, grandmother or friend.
• Purple: admiration and a touch of luxury.
• Orange: warmth and enthusiasm.

Shapes to look for

• Single early and Darwin hybrid: rounded, sturdy cups on stems of about 25 to 60 cm.
• Triumph: a hard-working group with a wide colour range.
• Lily-flowered: pointed, flared petals that look graceful in a tall vase.
• Parrot: frilled, feathered petals with streaks of colour.
• Double late: full, peony-like heads that suit a short, generous bunch.

Keeping cut tulips in good shape

Tulips carry on growing after they are cut, and they bend towards the light. Both are normal, and a few habits keep them tidy:

• Use a tall vase so the stems have support, and turn it now and then to even out the lean.
• Trim the stems, strip the leaves below the waterline and use cool water.
• Change the water every day, since tulips drink steadily.
• Put the bunch in a cool room away from sun, heaters and the fruit bowl. Cool air can stretch their life from days to more than a week.

For other bouquets, see our care tips, or learn what tulips say in our flower language guide. When you want to order flowers with tulips, remember they are at their best in the cooler months.