The tulip has never meant just one thing.

At first glance, it is simply a striking flower — upright, vivid, unmistakable. Yet in art, its meaning has shifted over time and across places. As it moved through courts, gardens, and studios, artists reframed it again and again.

In different contexts, the tulip becomes ornament, specimen, possession, or atmosphere.

There are over 150 different species in the Tulipa genus, with over 3,000 different varieties registered to date, and more to come as plant breeders continue creating new hybrids. That’s a lot to sort through! As such, to aid nurseries and gardeners in breeding, planting, and garden design., tulips are classified into 15 different groups based on common characteristics they share, such as shape, heritage, and flowering time.

The famed Tulip Stairs in Greenwich's Queen's House are an architectural marvel, but there’s been a long-standing debate about the design of the iron balustrade that embraces this staircase. Are they tulips or the traditional fleur-de-lys?⁠

A haunting and emotional poem, in which tulips are personified and given such a powerful and central presence that they function almost like characters.

These flowers carry the spiritual and emotional themes of purification, renewal, rebirth, and personal transformation.

Does the penny trick really stop tulips from drooping?

Keep your tulips looking fresh and vigorous with these tips. Plus, a few myth-busters.

Is it ice cream? Is it a flower? This unique and rare tulip variety is a sweet treat for any garden.

As far as tulip festivals go, bigger is better. These are the greatest, from the tulip fields of Skagit Valley, Washington to the palaces and parks of Istanbul.

Many are left wondering whether this public artwork by American pop artist, Jeff Koons, truly honors the victims of the 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.

Container planting basics. Learn how to plant tulip bulbs in pots with these six easy steps.

Follow these key steps when planting your tulip bulbs each fall and enjoy a dazzling display the following spring.