The leaves are four to six inches in diameter with four lobes that are notched into the rough "tulip-flower" shape. In garden tulips there is considerable diversity both in color, flower shape, and time of blooming. The common method to group tulips is by blooming time and flower height. These shorter tulips grow from 15-25cm in height and flower from mid-March.

In the last weeks of April you can catch tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and narcissi all flowering simultaneously. In Holland, where spring is long and cool, tulip flowers last up to six weeks. Each tulip flower has a glass tube inside to protect the bulb from the weather and stands 24" high. Triumph Tulips: The cup-shaped flowers are borne on strong stems and stand up well under poor weather conditions. 'Plaisir' Tulip Double late tulips are also known as peony-flowered tulips, alluding to their large double flowers. These early-flowering tulips are known for their intensely-colored flowers that open wide in the sunshine.

Although the Dutch didn't know it at the time, these striped flowers were produced when a tulip bulb became infected with the Mosaic virus. Huge collections of nearly worthless tulips became the genesis of the modern Dutch flower-bulb industry of today. The tulip's entry into Dutch society came in the 16th century when diplomats from Constantinople were said to have brought over the flowering plant. These flowers, such as the Yellow Crown tulips, could be purchased cheaply by even the poorer segments of society. Cut some closed tulip flowers (or flowers from another type of plant).