Are you ready to enjoy spring with this well-known flower? Find out about tulips’ long past, what they’ve stood for, and what their different colors mean.
People can easily spot tulips in a yard or bouquet because of their unique shape and bright colors. They’ve been in well-known fairy tales, like Thumbelina by Hans Christian Andersen. People in the Netherlands were also crazy about tulips in the 1600s, when tulip seeds sold for incredibly high prices.
What about roses and other flowers, though? Have you ever thought that different colors of tulips might mean different things? Find out what tulips mean and how they are used as a sign.
What Tulips Symbolize
If someone gives you a bunch of tulips, it could be for your birthday (tulips are one of the April birth flowers) or to celebrate your wedding anniversary. As the flower for an 11th wedding anniversary, tulips are tied with morning glories.
But for women living in France, England, or the U.S. in the middle of the 1800s, the flowers might have hidden a secret message.
Several well-known books were written in the Victorian era about the language of flowers and what the different colors and mixtures of colors meant. In general, tulips were thought to stand for fame and true love. Most people today only think of tulips when they think of spring and the Netherlands, but that’s not where they came from.
Tulips in History
When you think of tulips, you might picture neat, long rows of them with a windmill in the background. But tulips aren’t from Europe at all. They came from Central Asia, where they grew in the valleys of the Tien Shan mountain range north of the Himalayas.
These wild tulips didn’t look much like tulips do today, but they were tough and could survive very cold winters. Invaders from Turkey in the 9th century were encouraged by the bright red flowers that did well in the harsh conditions. Tulips became a very important sign of the Ottoman Empire.
Red Tulip Meaning
If you want to tell someone you love them, don’t send red roses. Instead, send red flowers. Many people think that red tulips are a sign of love and that they will believe what you say. Red tulips come in a lot of beautiful styles.
Many people choose “World’s Favorite,” which has perfectly shaped flowers with tomato red petals that have a hint of yellow around the edges.
Yellow Tulip Meaning
Want to tell someone how great their smile is? If you give them a bunch of yellow tulips, it means, “Your smile is like sunshine.” Try the flower called “Big Smile,” which has a classic look and blooms in late spring. When you see these lemon-yellow flowers, you can’t help but smile.
Cream Tulip Meaning
Cream-colored tulips say, “I’ll love you forever” when you don’t want to tell someone you love them but instead want to make a promise. Check out “Cream Jewel.” It starts out soft yellow and turns creamy white over time.
White Tulip Meaning
White is often used to show innocence and purity, which is why white tulips are a great addition to a flower for a rite of passage event like a bar mitzvah or baptism. With its pointed blooms that slightly flare and arch, the tulip “White Triumphator” adds a touch of class to your garden.
Pink Tulip Meaning
If you want to let someone know you’re thinking about them for no reason, pink tulips can mean friendship, care, and best wishes. “New Design” is a happy plant that blooms in the middle of spring with bright pink leaves.
You can send a message with a bouquet of tulips or just bring some of these tulip meanings into your own backyard by planting bulbs. There is a color and type of tulips that will work for you.