Tulipa commonly known as tulips make up a genus of flowers that bloom in the spring. They are big vibrantly colored flowers that are generally red, pink, yellow, or white. Tulip or Tulipa came from a Persian word meaning turban, given this name due to it being fashionable to wear the flower on turbans in that part of the world around 1299. Tulips were originally only found growing in south-east Europe but are now found throughout most of the Mediterranean and Europe, though not part of the natural distribution. They were brought in for cultivation by merchants from Central Asia at which point they became naturalized to the region. They were not brought into the United States until around 1847. The Netherlands produces most commercial tulip plants, roughly 3 billion a year mostly for export.
Tulips thrive in mountainous areas in meadows and fields in regions with mild temperatures. Tulips are usually cup-shaped and have three petals and three sepals. They come in various shapes and sizes and have diverse bright colors. One flower will grow on each stem and have 6 leaves per stem. Grown from seeds, Tulips will need around 5 years to become flowering size. They can be planted mid to late summer or fall in soil that allows water to drain at a moderate rate without pooling. Plant them 4-6 inches apart around 4-6 inches deep where they can have full sun. Blooming during the spring, they become dormant in the summer once the flowers and leaves die back, emerging above ground as a shoot from the underground bulb in early spring.
