Facts: Informational glance at tulip varieties, color, and medicinal  values.

History & Legends: A look at Tulip origins,  The Tulipmania phenomenon, and Legends.

Trivia:  Interesting tidbits of information concerning the tulip

Botanical name: Tulipa. The word is thought to be a corruption of the Turkish word for "turbans".

Color Variety: All colors except for blue and black. Tulips come in more color combinations, and shades, than any other flower except the dahlia - which in fact is a cousin of the tulip.

Varieties: One of the largest members of the lily family, the tulip has more than 100 species of flowers. So many varieties and strains have been developed down through history by crossing and hybridizing that today we can classify them in groups or strains for simplicity.  

Some species of Botanical Tulips are the original wild, short growing Tulips, but are commercially grown in Holland today. Through crossing and hybridizing, many varieties have been developed and classified under the group "Botanical Tulips", Greigii, Kaufmanniana, and Fosteriana form the three main groups. 'Red Emperor' belongs to this category and is probably the best known variety. Botanical Tulips are most interesting; they are the first Tulips to bloom in early spring. Their bright, solid and two-tone colors can be seen from a distance. Most varieties grow low and have very sturdy foliage. The Greigii varieties have dotted or striped leaves which are attractive to the eye even before they bloom

Medicinal: While the rose may bear no fruit, the rose hips (the part left on the plant after a rose is done blooming) contain more Vitamin C than almost any other fruit or vegetable. Rose water was successfully used to cure all kinds of ailments, such as trembling, constipation, drunkenness, skin and throat infections and insomnia.
Because of roses medicinal properties, rosehip tea is often recommended in pregnancy.
Rose oil can also reduce high cholesterol levels.
Roses are used in face toners and perfume and are one of the most effective anti-ageing ingredients.

Facts:

Legends

Trivia:

Tulip History & Legends:

Origins: Common belief is that they are native to Holland, however this is incorrect. Tulips actually originated from the Middle East cultivation was started over a thousand years ago and it grew wild in Persia.

History: In 1593, a botanist by the name of Carolus Clusius planted the first tulip bulb in Holland, with the purpose of using it to study for medicinal purposes.  Later in Europe, tulips were considered the symbol of the Ottoman Empire. The Ambassador of the Holy Roman Empire sent tulip seeds and bulbs to Clusius in Vienna, who planted them all in a heap and when they matured he gave a 100 bulbs to his grocer who, not knowing what to do with them, fried them and ate them with oil and vinegar.
It wasn't until the beginning of the seventeenth century that France began to become interested in tulips. In 1610, it became a major fad for French women to wear corsages of tulips. The tulip fashion began to evolve into a frenzy that greatly influenced fashion and many fabrics were decorated with tulip designs.

Tulipomania: During that era, the phenomenon of tulipomania commenced. Tulip values continuously rose throughout Europe to France and to the Low countries. Within a few years the Dutch were seized by tulipomania. A small bed of tulips was valued at 15,000-20,000 francs. Some rare tulip bulbs were fetching prices equivalent to over $100,000 in today's dollars
But it was not so much a enthusiasm for the flower, the bulbs became an actual type of currency. Their value changed from day to day and were quoted like stocks and shares. During the period 1634-1637, people abandoned jobs, businesses, wives, homes and lovers to become tulip growers. Everyone frequented the market and speculated in tulip shares. It is believed the word bourse [stock exchange] derives from that period, because those who speculated in the tulip market held their meetings at the house of the noble family Van Bourse.
Soon it was enough to simply exhibit a piece of paper attesting to the ownership of a bulb to sell it at a higher price, without producing the actual bulb. The number of bulbs on the market was about ten million. Finally, the tulip did not appear to quite so rare as to justify such high prices, and on April 27, 1637, a decree was issued declaring that the purchase and sale of tulip bulbs was to be conducted in the same way as any other business. Speculation ceased and dealers went bankrupt, and many people lost their savings because of the trade. Although prices fell to reasonable proportions, tulips never did become rally cheap and even today they are relatively expensive.

Legend:

According to Persian legend a Persian youth named Farhad, fell in love with a maiden named Shirin. One day, word reached him that she had been killed. Gripped by unbearable grief, he mounted his favorite horse and galloped over a cliff to his death. From each drop of blood that trickled onto the ground, from his wounds a scarlet tulip sprang, a symbol of his perfect love. Due to this, the red tulip became a symbol of passionate love in ancient Persia.

Tulip Trivia:

• Now largely associated with the Netherlands, Holland produces over 3 billion tulip bulbs each year. Tulips are the 3rd biggest selling flower in Holland and very popular in the UK as well.
   
• Tulips are the only flower that continues to grow in the vase after being cut. They can continue to grow up to another 3 inches. They also conform to the shape of the container, straight up if in a tall container, twisting to fit into a flat or irregular shaped vase.
   
• In 16th century the Sultan of Persia displayed his affection with tulips, by presenting a crimson tulip to his beloved as a symbol of the burning flame of his love. The first red tulips were tinged black at the base of each petal which is said to show that the sultan's heart was charred to black coal. Due to this overt suggestion of sexual attraction, the Victorians hardly used tulips as an expression of love.
   
• The ancient Turks used to brew a love potion from tulips and many cultures consider tulips to be the symbol of perfect love.
   
• In the early 1700s, A Turk by the name of Sultan Ahmed III was the first to begin importing bulbs from Holland. But it proved a fatal attraction. When Sultan Ahmed was brought to trial, his crimes included "having spent too much money on the traditional annual tulip festivals". The sentence: He was beheaded.
   
• In Japan, certain flour is made from tulips.
   
• In times of famine the Dutch have eaten tulip bulbs when no other food was available.. tulip bulb soup, tulip bulb stew, fried tulips, etc.
   
• There are many people in the world today who still eat tulip bulbs of certain varieties.
   
• In the 20th century it was discovered that the frilly petals and dramatic flames that gave the flower its stunning look were, in fact, the symptoms of an infection by the mosaic virus, from a louse living on peaches and potatoes. The healthy flower was supposed to be solid, smooth and monotone. Diseased varieties of tulips are no longer sold. Today they are genetically stable hybrids that look similar.
   
• Tulips are so popular that several festivals are held in their honor every year. Holland has a Tulip Festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people every year lasting for several days.
   
• In the United States, Michigan also holds a huge Tulip Festival in May. They mimic the festival in the real Holland with vendors, food, activities for the family.
   
• Tulips were long considered a trademark of famous painter David Hockney, which appear in many of his autobiographical paintings, which are displayed in his studio in Los Angeles.
   

Something to keep in mind when buying a bouquet of tulips for a member of the opposite sex:

The American Floral Marketing Council conducted a survey in 2002 on preference of tulip color by men and women.

Results shown in order of color preference..

Men purchased;
Red, yellow, pale pink, hot pink, white, and purple tulips.

Women liked;
Pale pink, pale purple, hot pink, peach, red, and yellow tulips..

Facts:

Legends

Trivia:

Posh Posy Florist www.poshposy.net