The Tulips

The Tale of Tulips: A Perfect Love

Commonly, tulips are a symbol of perfect love. The definition of ‘perfect love’ is tied to Turkish and Persian folktales about the love between Farhad and Shirin.

There have been quite a few variations of this tale over time. As one story goes, Farhad was a prince who fell in love with a beautiful woman named Shirin. However, she died tragically, and her untimely death tore the prince to pieces. It’s said that in desperation, Farhad rode his horse off a cliff and red tulips sprouted where his blood touched the ground.

More About Tulips

Originally from Persia and Turkey, tulips were brought to Europe in the 16th century, where they got their common name from the Turkish word for gauze, with which turbans were wrapped, reflecting the turban-like appearance of a tulip in full bloom. By the 17th century, the popularity of tulips, particularly in the Netherlands, became so great that the price of a single bulb soared to new heights, causing markets to crash and putting into motion “tulip mania.”

Tulips are also said to signal the arrival of spring. They are one of the first flowers to bloom in the springtime.

Colours and Symbolism

Their flower buds are known for being almost perfectly symmetrical. You can find tulips in almost any color, and each color carries its own significance.

Pink Tulip Symbolism

Pink tulips symbolize congratulations and the wish for good luck in whatever comes next. This calming, cheerful tone in a bouquet or vase of tulips is the perfect choice for sending a friend or family member your very best wishes.

Purple Tulip Symbolism

Purple has long symbolized royalty, primarily because a few centuries ago, purple dye was ridiculously expensive to make, so only the very wealthy could afford it. Nowadays, it's widely considered a color symbolic of elegance or refinement. Give purple tulips to someone you admire for their elegance and poise.

Yellow Tulip Symbolism

Yellow is just a naturally cheerful color, and yellow tulips represent hope, happiness, and good cheer. Give them to someone who makes your life brighter, or someone who could use a little extra cheer in their life.

Red Tulip Symbolism

Red flowers in general, including red tulips, are symbols of love or lust. Since tulips can represent true love, this goes double for red tulips. Give them to someone you're in love with, whether you're a new couple or have been together forever.

Orange Tulip Symbolism

Orange is generally a color that's symbolic of friendship and appreciation. This warm tone evokes feelings of happiness and cheer, and tulips in this color are a perfect gift for a dear friend or acquaintance, someone you're happy to have in your life.

White Tulip Symbolism

A symbol of purity and innocence. White tulips have long been associated with purity and innocence, representing a sense of pristine beauty and unspoiled nature. Their pristine white petals radiate an aura of simplicity and elegance, capturing the essence of purity in their delicate form.

White tulips also hold a deeper meaning when it comes to love and devotion, making them a popular choice for romantic gestures and declarations of affection. They can convey a message of deep devotion, loyalty, and commitment, making them an ideal choice for wedding ceremonies and anniversaries.

Blue Tulip Symbolism

What makes tulips truly unique is that they are one of the few flowers that come in virtually every color. But, surprisingly, “true blue” is one of the few colors that has remained absent from tulip’s impressive color palette.

Blue tulips, while not naturally occurring in a true blue hue, symbolize tranquility, serenity, and inner peace. They also represent trust, loyalty, and wisdom, making them a unique choice for conveying affection and good wishes.

Multi-Colored Tulips

For those who find it challenging to settle on a single color, multi-colored tulips offer a playful and eclectic alternative. These tulips are a visual representation of diversity and the myriad emotions that color our lives.

The Different Types of Tulips

Tulips come in many different types, with 3,000 varieties. They are grouped into categories based on how they look. Here are five popular types:

• Early Tulips: These bloom in spring, have simple cup-shaped flowers, and come in many colours.
• Triumph Tulips: These are strong and colourful, a bit shorter, and work well for borders and pots.
• Darwin Hybrid Tulips: They have big classic tulip shapes, bright colours, and last a long time.
• Parrot Tulips: These have unique, fringed petals that look like a parrot's feathers and come in various colours.
• Fringed Tulips: They have delicate fringed edges on their petals and come in different colours, adding elegance to gardens and bouquets.

There are more types of tulips like Double Late Tulips, Greigii Tulips, Fosteriana Tulips, and Lily-flowered Tulips, each with its own look and colours.

Fascinating Facts About Tulips

• There are more than 3,000 varieties of tulips divided into approximately 150 species.
• The time period when the flower was so expensive, around 1634 to 1637, is now known as “Tulip Mania.” During the 1600s, tulips in Holland could be as expensive as a home.
• Each tulip color has a different meaning.
• The Netherlands is the world's largest commercial producer of tulips, with around three billion exported each year.
• Blooms only last 7 to 10 days.
• Tulips will bend and twist to grow towards light, even in a vase!
• Tulips are part of the lily family.