How did the tulip become the most popular spring flower?

Hardly any other flower had such a glamorous path from a wild flower to the cultivated beauty we know today.
During the baroque times the tulip founds it’s way into the gardens of middle and northern Europe. The rich upper class was charmed by early breeding of the wild tulips. They were sought-after like gems, fancy clothing or carriages. Rare plants were a status symbol in these days.

450 years ago, the tulip that we love every spring was still a real exotic plant. Planted in parks, worn on the lapel of one’s coat or arranged in a vase it was still a truly impressive way to make an impression.

The demand exceeded by far the supply especially bi-coloured tulips like the red and white striped ones and trading tulips became very popular. The tulip trade peeked at the so-called “tulip mania” in 1630-1637. During these years tulip bulbs were traded like at the stock market. The price for three bulbs of a tulip so-called ‘Semper Augustus’ (which is not available any longer) was legendary high. The price was comparable to the price of a house in a prestigious neighbourhood (incl. boat and furniture) in Amsterdam at that time.
The bubble burst like so often on the stock market, however, it took several centuries for the price of unusual tulips to comes down to an affordable level.

Surprisingly though, the tulip which originally came from Turkey only established itself there as a staple in gardens in the 17th and 18th century. Especially sought after were tulip varieties with almond shaped or pointy pedals which are today known as lily tulips.
Many tulip varieties are easily crossed and there are almost no limits to colours and shades. Apart from a true blue, almost everything is available. Uni- or bi-colour, striped, picotee, spiral patterns,… as well as different shapes of tulips like singles or doubles, fringed or smooth,…

Nowadays the Netherlands are the home of tulips. The Dutch figured out quickly what perfect conditions for tulips are and Holland is ideal for growing tulips. Not only are the Dutch very talented growers but also very talented traders. Which explain why nowdays all tulips almost exclusivly come from Holland.

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