Tulips

Different types of Tulip bulbs

There are many different types of tulips. For example, there are early and late blooming Tulips, so you can enjoy this beautiful flower from March to May. You can also divide the Tulip into single and double types. The double tulip varieties have many more leaves, which makes them remind you of a Peony. Another name for this species is also called the Peony flower. A variety that is also very suitable as a cut flower due to its long, strong stems is the Darwin Hybrid Tulip. 

Besides a single or double row of petals, you also have fringed tulips, which are called the fringed tulips. Another striking tulip variety is the Parrot tulip, which has a serrated edge on the leaves and is available in different colours. If you are looking for the perfect tulip bulbs for your flower box or border, we recommend the multi-flowered tulips. This species has several flowers per stem.

History of the tulip

The tulip, largely considered the Dutch national flower, does not originate from the Netherlands but from Turkey. Around 1593, the first tulip bulbs were brought to the Netherlands, where they were planted in the still existing Hortus Botanicus in Leiden by Carolus Clusius. He grew the tulip bulbs for research at the University of Leiden, but he did not sell them. It was only after the tulips were stolen from the Hortus Botanicus that people began selling tulip bulbs. A type of stock trading in tulip bulbs, or speculation, became all the rage. Tulip bulbs were bought for absurd amounts. and prices of up to 4,000 guilders per tulip bulb were no exception. By comparison, in those days an experienced craftsman earned about 300 guilders a year. The tulip trade was not only about bulbs but also about ownership titles being sold on for large sums of money while no one even owned a bulb. Tulipomania lasted from 1634 to 1637, when the government intervened and curbed the sale of tulip bulbs. After this period normal cultivation and trade were gradually established, though for a long time tulip bulbs remained unique, and therefore expensive. It was only until early 1900 that tulip bulbs became cheaper and more accessible to everyone. Nonetheless, tulips remain a unique phenomenon and new varieties continue to be developed so that you can enjoy a colourful collection of flowers each spring. 

Buying tulip bulbs

Buy premium quality tulip bulbs from QFB Gardening and enjoy the splendid varieties and colours available thanks to the work of Carolus Clusius. Exorbitant prices, such as in the days of the Tulipomania, are a thing of the past. You can buy the most beautiful tulip bulbs from us online for a modest price.

Buy your tulip bulbs between March and November and plant them in October/November/December before the first frost. If you have planted your tulip bulbs in this period, you can enjoy the splendour of these magnificent flowers in the spring

QFB Gardening is the main supplier of Keukenhof

Together with parent company Tuberbulb, QFB Gardening is the main supplier of Keukenhof. Every year, we deliver thousands of tulip bulbs to the famous flower park. These tulip bulbs are planted in our own garden at Keukenhof. You can also buy tulip bulbs in our shop at Keukenhof, alongside a wide variety of flower bulbs. The Keukenhof is an important showcase for tulip bulbs grown in the Netherlands, which are just as iconic as Dutch cheese. It is an honour for us to be able to display our tulip bulbs in this stunning setting. The tulip bulbs we supply to the Keukenhof are of the same quality as those we deliver to you when you buy tulip bulbs online. Only the best tulip bulbs are planted here to exhibit our beautiful product. If you would like to admire our tulip bulb collection.