about
flowers
TULIPS
(too-lips)
Tulipa
This goblet-shaped bloom of six petals is Holland's most popular flower.
There are literally thousands of cultivars with various shapes and colors,
including multi-color and bi-color varieties. They can be grouped into
four general categories, according to the shape of the flower. 1) single
tulips with rounded petals, 2) double tulips with rounded petals, 3) parrot
tulips with fringed petals, and 4) lily-flowered tulips with pointed petals.
Both stem length and size of bloom vary by variety.
Available: Late winter and spring.
Care & Handling:
- Unpack boxes and inspect immediately upon arrival. Do not remove sleeves.
- Tulips have a relatively short vase life (4-5 days). To slow down
the opening of the bloom, place stems in 2" of cold preservative solution,
without re-cutting stems. Consider prechilling water in cooler overnight
or using ice chips in tap water to bring water temperature down.
- Tulips are phototropic and will quickly curve toward any available
light source. Snugly pack sleeved tulips upright in a bucket of cold
preservative solution. Store under an overhead light source in your
floral cooler if possible.
- Tulips are heavy drinkers! Check your water level and replenish with
preservative solution daily.
Design Suggestions:
- One or several stems of tulips can make a dramatic statement in a
vase.
- Choose a vase that measures about 2/3 the depth of the tulips stems
so they will have plenty of water and you will have better control over
the placement of the stems.
- Use as feature flowers in designs.
- These flowers look beautiful cracking or open in arrangements. Note
that tulips continue to grow the first 24 hours they are in water.
- If necessary for the line of the arrangement, wire tulips to control
flowers from curving toward the light.
Merchandising Tips:
- Display with other Dutch novelties such as iris, daffodils and lilies.
- Double varieties of tulips can be displayed separately to show value.
- Do not mix with daffodils unless the daffodils have been in water
for 24 hours and the water changed.
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