Brightly colored emissaries dot gardens and flower shops around the world, signaling that springtime has arrived. In the United States and many European countries, tulips are one of the harbingers of spring, and are mandatory flowers for Easter. Tulips are a staple in the décor of many countries, decorating on anything spring related. Although they are loved throughout the world, many consider Holland as the tulip's home. This is a misconception; tulips have only been citizens in Holland for about 400 years. They do enjoy the adoration of the Netherlands today, and are its chief plant export. Many gardeners buy these bulbs to 'force' (into early bloom). The United States is the current number one importer, followed by Japan and Germany.
This lovely flower has six petals which begin cupped upward to make a luminescent sphere in many bright colors. This phase of the tulip's life is the most widely recognized. The petals on most varieties slowly drop open to reveal a large flower, often with a darker center. Tulips come in a myriad of colors including white, red, pink, yellow, purple and striated versions which combine these colors. They have large, flat, spear shaped leaves that come up from the ground with a soft green glow. Tulips belong in the Liliaceae family, where their genus of Tulipa boasts over one hundred species. Most species of tulips grow well in mountainous regions, to which they are native. Their original homeland is believed in to be mountain ranges near the border of Russia and China. Another original homeland includes parts of Azerbaijan and Armenia. From these locations, tulips spread into China, Mongolia, and up into areas of Europe. The bulbs of the tulip do well in winter weather; some varieties even have a thick hair-like lining to help with the colder climates.
The name 'tulip' is believed to be derived from the Latin translation of the Turkish word for turbans. This name could have been given because the tulip is well loved and worn in turbans, or because of the turban-like shape of the tulip bloom in its early stages. Historically speaking, the tulip has been so popular that economic problems have resulted for countries based on crop failure, or improper speculation. It continues to be a major export for Holland, who received their first tulips from what was then the Ottoman Empire. Tulips continue to be cherished all over the world, as the national flower of both Iran and Turkey, and a prominent folk art device in many cultures. It is a jovial, colorful plant that will continue to be one of the most universally loved flowers.