It’s a good thing we are not living in 17th century Holland, as the tulip was considered a true exotic and was used as currency during the era known as “tulipomania.”

In the 21st century, the tulip is still highly valued for its simple, yet elegant beauty.

Being beautiful can have its down side, as the tulip can attest to.  With leaf yellowing, short vase life and stem elongation (stretching), the tulip has to make up its shortcomings with the WOW factor.

Tulip purchasing and care

• Purchase tulips where the entire bud has color and is tight
• Cut the stems and remove all of the white fleshy stem base to allow better water uptake, as tulips are big drinkers
• Remove any leaves below the water line
• Hydrate the tulips with a specialized bulb or tulip food
• The cut tulip may need help to stand up right. Before you design, support the stem by placing a damp newspaper tightly around the stems and securing with a elastic band. Allow 2 hours for the tulip to drink and firm up
• To extend the life of a tulip, keep them in a cool area away from direct sunlight or drafts

Design

When mixing tulips and spring flowers, do not incorporate freshly cut daffodils into the bouquet. Daffodils excrete a slimy substance that can clog the tulip stem and reduce their vase life. If you use daffodils, cut and store them for several hours in a separate vase to rid of the secretion.

With the height and shape of the tulip, it gives a soft, romantic look to any bouquet.

Being an inexpensive flower, you are almost guaranteed to get change back from the florist!