Tulip
Single large cup shaped flower at the end of the stem comprising of few tepals (combined petals and sepals). Flowers are typically brightly colored including white, yellow, pink, peach, orange, red, lavender, purple and bi-colors.
Family: Liliaceae
Species: Tulipa gesneriana
Origin: Mediterranean
Symbolizes: Tulips are the symbol of perfect love. But every color also has its own meaning. The symbolism of the most popular colors is love for red, royal for purple, mercy for yellow, forgiveness for white and elegance for pink.
Also Known As: Tulipa
Care, Handling & Design
Temperature: 34-38 F (1-3 C)
Humidity: 75-85%
Water: Medium water quality. Avoid softened water.
Vase Life: 5-7 days
What to Look for When Purchasing
To maximize the vase life, look for tulips that are just starting to open. Buds should be closed, but the color of the flower should be evident. Tulip are graded based on uniformity of opening and stem length. The flowers and stems should be clean and free from defects such as flower bud blasting (flowers abort or deformed) or greening of flower buds. Also, stems and blooms should be securely wrapped to avoid flower breaking and bruising. And finally, avoid stems with yellow leaves.
Foam Info
Due to softness of stems, tulips perform better in a vase than in foam. If designing in foam, make sure that you do not move the stems from their original inserted position as it might weaken the stems. Leaf yellowing can be a problem in foam. Soft stems prone to stem burn. Use lower density foam like OASIS® Springtime Floral Foam Maxlife.
Design Tips
When designing with tulips, don't be surprised if those perfectly arranged tulips aren't in the same place you arranged them. Unlike most other flowers, tulips continue to grow after being cut, sometimes as much as an inch (2.5cm). As their stems reach upwards and their flowers lean towards the light, tulips begin to arch, bend and twist. When designing with tulips, make sure that you pair them with flowers that have similar characteristics and vase life.
Ethylene Sensitivity
Varies. Some cultivars are ethylene sensitive.
Pest & Disease Information
Prone to fungal disease.
Troubleshooting
1. Stem bending: Tulips packed horizontally should be held at 34-38 F (1-3 C) to avoid geotropic bending. Also stems should be maintained in an upright position during handling to prevent stem bending. 2. Excessive stem elongation: Tulip stem continues to elongate after harvest and may often grow out of arrangements. Keep flowers at cool temperatures and use anti-elongation treatments at farm level. 3. Flowers “blow” open too quickly: Likely due to being held at warm temperatures. 4. Yellow leaves: Use anti-yellowing treatments.
Product Usage
For optimal care of Tulip, please reference the chart of products below. Make sure to select your region to see which products are available.