The Essential Guide To The Tulip
Botanical Name: Tulipa spp
Common Name: Tulip
General Knowledge: The Tulip, originally hailing from the wilds of Central Asia, became a symbol of wealth and opulence during the 17th-century Tulip Mania in the Netherlands. In Australia, tulips are predominantly cultivated for their vibrant blooms, which are a focal point in springtime floral displays and public gardens. A whimsical fact about tulips is that their petals are edible and have been historically used in cuisine, adding a splash of colour and a peppery flavour to salads and other dishes.
Colour Range: White, pink, red, yellow, orange, purple. Bi-colours and doubles also available.
Australian Seasonal Availability: Late winter to spring is their natural season. However, tulips grown out of season are available during autumn, winter, and spring.
Australian Wedding and Event Season Availability: Late winter to spring and also autumn, given their out-of-season growth.
Commercially Grown in Australia: Yes, tulips are commercially grown in Australia.
Imported into Australia: Tulips may be imported into Australia to meet demands.
Buying Tips: Purchase when buds are showing colour, ideally the upper half coloured and the rest green. Tulips without visible colour might not open. Choose tulips with strong stems and glossy green leaves. Avoid those with yellow leaves – it indicates poor post-harvest treatment or other issues.
Design Tips and Advice: Tulips are focal flowers best showcased in a glass vase, allowing them to retain their natural form. They can also be wound inside large vases with stem ends submerged. For occasions, if buds are green and barely showing colour upon purchase, buy them 3 to 4 days in advance to allow them time to open. For a formal look, stems can be recut to manage elongation.
Flower Maturity: Buy when the upper half of the bud is coloured.
Expected Vase Life: 3-8 days depending on time of year, stage of harvest, and cultivar.
Typical Stem Length: 30–50 cm.
Typical Bunch Size: Typically, 10 stems per bunch.
Floral Preservatives: Not generally needed, however tulip-specific flower food sachets are effective in preventing stem elongation and maintaining leaf quality.
Ethylene Sensitivity: This can vary, better to keep your tulips away from ethylene to be safe.
Temperature Requirements: Tulips prefer cold water, and it's advisable to keep them in a cool room to prolong their freshness, specifically 2–4 °C.
How to Avoid Potential Problems: Beware of tulips that have been cold-stored for extended periods – they may appear fine in the cool room but can quickly deteriorate in warm conditions. Do not combine with Narcissus (like daffodils and jonquils) unless the latter have been cut and separately stored in water for at least 6 hours; they release a gel harmful to tulips.
Cooling and Cool Rooms: Store at 2–4 °C.
Hydration and Vase Solutions: After conditioning, wrap tulips in paper to keep upright and place in water in a cool, dark place. While specific flower food solutions may not always enhance vase life more than plain water with added biocide, certain products have been designed to maximize tulip vase life and quality.
Care of Ethylene Sensitive Products: Store in ethylene-free environments, as tulips have variable sensitivity.