Deep in the ground they defy the winter. Tulips proudly rise from March onwards to announce the approaching spring with magnificent flowers. This profile shows which attributes characterize the enchanting onion flowers.
What are characteristic features of tulips?
Tulips are lily plants (Liliaceae) with more than 150 species and many thousands of varieties. They are herbaceous, perennial bulb flowers that grow 10 to 70 cm high. The flowering period is from March to May, and they are poisonous in all parts.
Systematics and appearance
Myths and legends surround tulips. This is hardly surprising given their beauty and radiance, which has captivated us for centuries. The following profile shows which botanical properties their nimbus results from:
- Botanical name: Tulipa
- Plant family of the lily family (Liliaceae)
- More than 150 species with many thousands of varieties
- Herbaceous, perennial flowering plant with onion as a survival 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 period from March to May, depending on the species and variety
- Elongated fruit capsules with numerous seeds in summer
- Poisonous in all parts
The toxic content is concentrated primarily in the tulip bulbs in the form of tuliposides, which can irritate the stomach and skin. While it is not advisable to consume large quantities of the poisonous onions, the colorful petals are edible and serve as food decoration in modern cuisine.
Naturally easy to care for
The characteristics shown in the profile produce a flower with minimal care requirements. Thanks to their strong bulbs, tulips control growth, flowering and overwintering almost self-sufficiently. 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
- Only water during prolonged dry periods
- Cut off the flowers promptly to avoid the energy-sapping seed growth
The most important measure in the care program is pruning at the right time. Give the tulips enough time to shift all the nutrients from the foliage into the interior of the bulb. Based on this energy reserve, new shoots will occur next spring with subsequent flowering.
Tip
In the Middle Ages, enthusiasm for tulips made waves. During the tulip mania of the early 1630s, tulip enthusiasts shelled out astronomical sums for a single tulip bulb. A whopping 17,280 guilders were paid for a single Rembrandt tulip bulb in 1637. In comparison, a craftsman earned 250 guilders per year.