Tulips – Symbolism and Meaning - Symbol Sage (2024)

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Dani Rhys

October 9, 2020

Tulips – Symbolism and Meaning - Symbol Sage (2)

Table of Contents

  • About the Tulip Flower
  • What Was the Tulipomania?
  • Meaning and Symbolism of Tulips
  • Symbolism of Tulip Colors
  • Uses of Tulips throughout History
  • Tulips in Use Today
  • When to Give Tulip Flowers
  • In Brief

Known for their vivid, bright colors and beautiful shape, tulips are among the most popular flowers and are garden favorites. Here’s why it was once valued beyond its obvious worth, fueling the so-called tulip mania, along with its significance and uses today.

About the Tulip Flower

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Derived from the Turkish term for turbans, tulips are spring-blooming flowers from the Liliaceae family. Most of them are native to eastern Asia and central Europe since they thrive in regions with dry-to-warm summers and cool-to-cold winters. While the flower is closely associated with Holland, it was first cultivated in Turkey, and eventually introduced to Europe after 1550.

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There are thousands of different types of tulips. Most of them are cup-shaped with narrow petals, while other varieties feature star-shaped flowers with fringed edges. From bright tones to pastels and bi-colors, tulips can be found in every color you can imagine except blue. Some tulips are solid-colored while others have exotic color streaks.

These streak-like, delicately feathered patterns of tulips were caused by a virus transferred by aphids, which weakens the plant. The Dutch government banned the cultivation of infected tulips, so the ones we see today are the Rembrandt tulips, which were carefully bred to resemble the flower that fueled the tulip mania.

What Was the Tulipomania?

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By the 17th century, the flower became a collector’s item and an exotic luxury sold for hundreds of dollars each. The story goes that many Dutch families mortgaged their houses and estates in hopes of investing in tulips and reselling them at higher prices, hence, the tulip mania.

One of the rarest and most valuable tulip in the craze was the Semper Augustus, with flame-like white and red petals. It’s said that there were only 12 bulbs that existed at the time, so buyers thought they had made an investment in a one-of-a-kind plant.

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Back then, no one knew what made the flower produce irregular streaks of color—it was just in the 20th century that the virus was identified—so it seemed promising during the Dutch Golden Age. In 1637, the tulip market crashed after just two months, causing prices to drop. Tulipomania is often considered to be the first recorded speculative bubble.

By the 19th century, tulips became more affordable for ordinary gardeners, and commercially valuable in Holland.

Meaning and Symbolism of Tulips

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Tulips have captivated us for generations, and their symbolism allows us to say a lot without speaking a word. Here are some of these meanings:

  • Declaration of Love – This association likely originated from the legend where young Turkish men gathered tulips to court girls residing in the harems. The flowers are said to be found along the Bosporus, a strait in Turkey, uniting the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. The Tulipa gesneriana, also called the Didier’s tulip, is believed to have aphrodisiac powers, which attract love and luck.
  • Rebirth or New Beginnings – Tulips come up early in the spring, and can be seen in different colors, shapes, and varieties, adding new life to surroundings after the gloomy winter season.
  • Protection, Luck, and Prosperity – The Tulipa vierge is believed to provide protection when worn as a charm. Some even carried the flower in their purse or pocket in hopes that it would give them protection and good luck. Also, planting tulips near your home is thought to counteract bad luck and poverty.

Symbolism of Tulip Colors

Tulips come in just about every color of the rainbow, and here are the specific color meanings of the flower:

  • Red tulips can be the best flowers to express your undying love, since the color itself evokes passion and romance. Also, the bloom says, “trust me or believe me.” In some contexts, it may also mean charity or fame.
  • Pink tulips are also associated with love, and the flower simply says, “You’re my perfect lover.”
  • Purple tulips symbolize eternal love.
  • Orange tulips say, “I’m fascinated by you.”
  • White tulips represent sincerity or forgiveness, which makes them the best apology flowers.
  • Yellow tulips say, “There’s a sunshine in my smile.” In modern interpretation, the cheery hue itself represents friendship. However, the flower can also represent hopeless love or no chance of reconciliation, so be careful when giving them to someone after a big fight.
  • Black tulips symbolize sacrificial love.
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Uses of Tulips throughout History

These flowers were highly valued long before they became popular in Holland—and have been used as food and medicine for many centuries.

  • In Religion and Politics

In 1055, tulips were cultivated in the Tien Shan Mountains, and eventually became a holy symbol, even representing paradise on earth. The Turkish term for tulip has the same letters as Allah when written in Arabic. Also, it’s regarded the flower of the Islamic Republic, often seen as a motif in tiles and ceramics decorating the mosques of Edirne and Istanbul.

  • In Gastronomy

During the Dutch famine in 1944 to 1945, the tulip bulbs were utilized as food out of desperation and was even grounded into flour to make bread. Unfortunately, there were reports that they gave people skin rashes and various illnesses. Though it isn’t advisable to eat tulip bulbs, the petals are edible and commonly cooked with beans and peas. Back in the day, the petals were also eaten with syrup as a dessert, but now they’re commonly used as garnish.

  • In Medicine

In the 17th century, it’s believed women crushed tulip petals and rubbed them onto their skin to soothe insect bites, rashes, scratches, burns, and cuts. Eventually, the flowers were used to make lotions and skin creams.

Disclaimer

The medical information on symbolsage.com is provided for general educational purposes only. This information should in no way be used as a substitute for medical advice from a professional.

  • In Arts and Literature

During the 13th century, tulips were a highlight of Persian art and poetry, especially the Gulistan by Musharrifu’d-din Saadi. Tulips were also often chosen in European paintings, especially those from the Dutch Golden Age.

  • As Floral Decorations

During the 16th and 17th century in Europe, the giving of tulips signified offering one’s fortune, and came with special vases. Mary I of Scotland is thought to have started the trend of using tulips as a flower decoration indoors, placed in pagoda-shaped vases.

Tulips in Use Today

These flowers signal the arrival of spring, brightening up the gardens and borders for the new season. There are hundreds of unique and colorful varieties of tulips to choose from, and because they’re a long-lasting cut flower, they are excellent for indoor decorations. In fact, tulips will continue to grow in your vase after you cut them, which is best for adding a pop of color and elegance to any room.

In weddings, they’re often used as floral decorations and centerpieces, but they work best in bouquets. For bridal bouquets, tulips look pristine in all-white posies, but also look majestic when combined with other flowers like carnations, peonies, and daffodils. For bridesmaids’ bouquets, tulips can be bright and colorful, often complementing the wedding theme.

When to Give Tulip Flowers

These beautiful flowers have inspired love and passion, and they can be used for any occasion. Since tulips are a declaration of love, it’s the best flower of choice for your first bouquet to give to someone you admire. They’re regarded as the 11th wedding anniversary flower too.

If you want to brighten up someone’s day, a colorful posy of tulips is a great choice. It can be given to a friend as a thoughtful get-well gift, as well as to celebrate achievements. White tulips are the best pick for an apology bouquet.

In Brief

Once an exotic luxury, tulips are readily available today and remain an exquisite option in bouquets, fields and gardens. With all of their symbolic meanings, it’s not surprising that these flowers are a favorite.

Tulips – Symbolism and Meaning - Symbol Sage (2024)

FAQs

Tulips – Symbolism and Meaning - Symbol Sage? ›

Tulips are a Symbol of Spring and New Life

What is the spiritual meaning of the tulips? ›

Rebirth. As tulips bloom at the beginning of spring they also have a meaning of rebirth. If you know someone who is going through some life changes, taking on new adventures and challenges or have welcomed a new addition to the family, a lovely bouquet of tulips would make a wonderful gift.

What do tulips symbolize as a person? ›

The most known meaning of tulips is perfect and deep love. As tulips are a classic flower that has been loved by many for centuries they have been attached with the meaning of love. They're ideal to give to someone who you have a deep, unconditional love for, whether it's your partner, children, parents or siblings.

What did tulips become a symbol for? ›

Because of this, and their appearance, the flowers were named after the Persian word Tulipan which was translated to Turban. Due to tulips becoming a symbol of wealth and power, tulips became extremely popular throughout the country and the early 18th Century was classed as the Tulip Era or Age of the Tulips.

What is the mythology of the tulips? ›

Tulip MEMORY

The tulip's name comes from the Persian word for turban because in full bloom tulips have a turban-like shape. Tulips commonly mean perfect love. The meaning of perfect love is tied to Turkish and Persian legends about the love between Farhad and Shirin. There are a few variations of this tale.

What do flowers represent spiritually? ›

They serve as powerful symbols of love, faith, hope, purity, and growth, among other significant themes.

Do tulips symbolize life? ›

Because tulips bloom in the spring, they are commonly used to represent new life and warmth, but every color also carries its own significance and interesting superstitions.

What are tulips for mental health? ›

The yellow tulip represents happiness and hope. They also remind founder Julia Hansen of her two best friends who she lost to suicide when she was a sophom*ore in high school. The tulip was one friends favorite flower and yellow was the others favorite color. The Yellow Tulip is also the flower of HOPE.

What type of person likes tulips? ›

They can symbolize many things, but the two main characteristics are true love and fame. If you choose tulips, it's sure to mean that you're thoughtful and confident. Your personal style can change a lot depending on what mood you're in, but somehow you are still always sleek and coordinated.

What tulips mean sorry? ›

White tulips, in particular, symbolise forgiveness, honour, consideration and respect, making them the perfect apology flower. Red tulips symbolise passionate love, so may be given in apology to a romantic partner.

What does 🌷 mean in texting? ›

Depicted as a single, vertical pink tulip on a green stem. Commonly used for Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and other special occasions. May be more generally used to express such sentiments as love, appreciation, and happiness.

Are tulips a symbol of wealth? ›

Dating back centuries, the tulip is the quintessential symbol of luxury, wealth and prosperity in the history of art and antiques. The delicate flower was a status symbol reflecting a taste for the extravagant.

Why put a penny in tulips? ›

Why Do Pennies Make Flowers Last Longer? The reason pennies are considered a smart way to keep flowers alive longer is because copper is a fungicide, so it naturally kills off those pesky bacteria and fungi that are trying to camp out in your flowers' vase and shorten the life span of your stems.

What flowers represent Zeus? ›

Iris was also known to be the messenger of Zeus and Hera. Iris would take messages from "the eye of Heaven" to earth, travelling on the arc of the rainbow. The word iris means "eye of heaven". It was the name given to the goddess, this flower, and the center of your eye.

What is the message of purple tulips? ›

If you want to let her know that she is your queen, choose an arrangement of purple tulips. Purple has long been the color of royalty. Purple can also be used to express admiration for a loved one's accomplishments. Multi-hued tulips can also be used to express a message to someone special.

What do tulips mean to a woman? ›

The use of tulips helped the suffragettes to spread their message and gain support for their cause. Today, tulips are still used as a symbol of women's empowerment and are a popular gift on International Women's Day. They represent the strength, resilience, and beauty of women around the world.

What do different color of tulips mean and symbolize? ›

Tulip Symbolism & Colors

Pink tulips symbolize happiness and confidence. Purple tulips symbolize royalty. Yellow tulips symbolize cheerful thoughts. White tulips symbolize forgiveness.

What is the spiritual meaning of purple tulips? ›

The meaning of purple tulips

Only noble people could use this color for their clothing and fabrics. Another meaning people often assign to the color purple is spirituality, wisdom and magic. Purple Long Life Tulips are therefore suitable for any occasion and are not tied to one specific moment.

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