Want to learn more about some of the plants found in the Allegheny Plateau? Read below to learn about Tulips (Tulipa), a fascinating, spring-blooming genus in the Lily (Liliaceae) family.
Tulips grow wild over much of the Near East and Central Asia, and are known to be cultivated in Constantinople as early as 1055. By the 15th century, tulips were among the most prized flowers and became a symbol of the Ottomans. While tulips had probably been cultivated in Persia from the 10th century, they were not known to the West until the 16th century. After diplomats to the Ottoman court observed and reported on them, they were brought to Europe where they became a frenzied commodity.
Between 1634 and 1637, the enthusiasm for the new flowers in Holland triggered a speculative frenzy now known as “Tulipmania.” Tulip bulbs became so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency and futures, forcing the Dutch government to introduce trading restrictions on the bulbs. This craze has solidified an association with the Netherlands that lasts to this day.
Tulips (Tulipa), are a genus in the Lily family (Liliaceae) of spring-blooming, perennial, herbacious, bulbiferous geophytes.
The flowers are usually large, showy and brightly colored – generally red, pink, yellow, or white (usually warm colors). They often have a different colored blotch at the base of the tepals (petals and sepals, collectively) internally.
There are 15 divisions, mostly based upon flower size, and over 400 named cultivars in almost every color. Heights can range from 6-30″ tall, with no blooms 1-3 years after planting.
It is believed the first tulips in the U.S. were grown near Spring Pond at the Fay Estate in Lynn and Salem, MA. From 1847 to 1865, Richard Sullivan Fay, esq., one of Lynn’s wealthiest men, settled on 500 acres located partly in present-day Lyn and present-day Salem.
Every spring, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden welcomes multitudes of these colorful bulbs. Find tulips adorning Peirce Celebration Garden, Peirce Courtyard Garden, outside the Welcome Center, and in several seasonally-rotating planters.
Container Planting – Think outside the beds! Bulbs do well planted in turf or containers. This method allows you to easily transport plants, are good for small spaces like terraces and decks, and are easy to change out by season.
Bloom Time – Extend your bloom time by planting a variety of species. For an extended display of one color, consider mixing cultivars that bloom at different times. To extend the bloom period of one particular cultivar, consider planting 1/3 at proper planting depth, 1/3 at slightly deeper depth, and 1/3 very deep. Interplant bulbs with annual and perennial plants.
Plant Pairing – Pansies, forget-me-nots, and English daisies are annuals that work well when planted alongside tulips. There are many perennials that make good bulb companions: Hosta, Lady’s mantle, Geranium, Nepeta, Solidago, Salvia, Plumbago, Aster, Daylily, Liatris, Coreopsis, Sedum, Lamb’s ear, and ferns.
No Blooms = Not enough chilling, leaves removed too soon the previous year, poor soil fertility, and/or not enough sun.
Fewer Plants/Blooms Over Time = Overcrowding, decreased bulb vitality, some bulbs are short-lived.
The Netherlands has the world’s largest permanent display of tulips at the Keukenhof in Lisse, Netherlands.
Tulips are used as a decorative feature during the Persian New Year, or Nowruz.
In Iran, there is a legend from the 6th century of a young Prince Farhad. The prince, upon hearing rumors of the death of his great love, Shirin, was so overcome with grief that he ended his life. This rumor turned out to be falsely spread as a means of sabotage. According to lore, tulips grew in the place where Prince Farhad perished. This act solidified tulips as a symbol of eternal love, sacrifice, and honor.
As a symbol of honor and martyrdom, tulips were included on the Iranian flag in 1980, following the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Tulips also became a symbol of protest against the Iranian government after the presidential election in 2009.
The tulip is seen as a symbol of abundance and indulgence in many European countries. The era during which the Ottoman Empire was wealthiest is often called the Tulip Era, or Lale Devri in Turkish.
In Turkish Culture, the tulip was a symbol of paradise on Earth and had a near-divine status. In the Netherlands, it represented the briefness of life.
In Christianity, tulips symbolize passion, belief and love.
White tulips are often associated with forgiveness and purple tulips often represent royalty.
– By Dr. Mark Miller, Education & Exhibits Director
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