Tulips for Texas

When one thinks of spring bulbs their first thoughts usually turn to tulips. The tulip is a beautiful flower, and also a cheerful reminder of Spring. The tulip is actually wild flower due to its origins in mountainous terrain and varieties. Certain kinds of tulips grow under rocks and only in the highest climates. The tulip is a native of central Asia but is greatly associated with the Dutch because they became the masters of cultivating tulips in the 1600's and Holland has since become a land renowned for its fields of tulips.

Tulips, like many of the Dutch bulbs, require a definite cold period during the winter to initiate flowering and a mild growing season to develop foliage for next years flower. Care of tulips requires time and planning. The best tulips are usually chilled before they are placed in highly absorbent ground. Be sure to give cut tulips lots of water, and always cut stems at an angle so that they can drink properly.

Tulip Questions and Answers:
Is the number of ("furry little things inside the flower") stamens always equal to the number of petals? Usually in tulips the stamens equal the petals. In other flowers the stamens vary in number from the petals. Tulips are monocots in the Liliaceae or Lily family where the flowers have flower parts in 3's or 6's. So usually there are 6 stamens and 6 petals on tulips.

What makes a tulip red, yellow or striped? Its genes. Just like one boy or girl will have brown hair or blond hair, different plants have different genes for flower color. The striped petals are fun and were highly prized in Europe in the 1600's. Today we know sometimes the stripes indicate a virus disease, but most of the bicolors are just due to the plants unique flower genes.

Calvin Finch on Spring Bulbs
Tulip History
Tulip Planting Guide