Tulips and Peonies and a Peony Tulip

This new tulip variety looks like it's part artichoke.

Leaves edged in cream add to to this tulip's charm.

The classic Sarah Bernhardt.

Known as a bomb, this type opens to reveal an "explosion of irregular petals."

Tons of petals give peony tulips their lush, peonyish look. 

More Tulipmania

Though we associate tulips with flat-as-a-pancake Holland, they're actually mountain flowers, originating in the foothills of the Himalayas. The sultans of the Ottoman Empire were responsible for the first wave of tulipmania. These "exotic" blooms reached Holland by way of Prague in the 1590's. By the 1630's, they were no longer reserved only for royalty and the rich and the second wave of tulipmania was in full force.

Tulipmania, Part 2

Often we'll get a tulip described as "rem" -- shorthand for Rembrandt. Even though Rembrandt rarely painted a tulip, a variety popular during his lifetime bears his name. Rems are known for their vertical streaks of color. A virus caused the originals; modern rems are the result of tulip tinkering.

Tulipmania

Tulipmania lives on! Today a mind-boggling 4000 registered varieties exist. This is one of our favorites. Fully open, it's almost completely flat. On its own or mixed with other flowers, it's a stunner. It must have a formal name but our supplier just calls it Leo.