1. There are over 150 species of tulips with over 3,000 different varieties. 

Natural environment, Petal, Natural landscape, Flower, Cloud, Landscape, Pink, Field, Magenta, Plantation, pinterest

2. Their flower buds are known for being almost perfectly symmetrical.

Blue, Petal, Flower, Serveware, Purple, Lavender, Glass, Flowering plant, Violet, Still life photography, pinterest

3. Most tulips sprout a single flower bud, but a few varieties have up to four on a single stem. 

Natural environment, Plant, Petal, Flower, Red, Landscape, Pink, Magenta, Flowering plant, Ecoregion, pinterest

4. Tulips are part of the lily family. 

Natural environment, Flower, Petal, Purple, Pink, Magenta, Flowering plant, Lavender, Spring, Wildflower, pinterest

5. Tulips only bloom for 3-7 days in the spring. 

Natural environment, Plant, Purple, Flower, Petal, Magenta, Leaf, Pink, Violet, Flowering plant, pinterest

6. You can find tulips in almost any color. 

Sky, Petal, Plant, Flower, Atmospheric phenomenon, Pink, Atmosphere, Magenta, Field, Purple, pinterest

7. According to Teleflora, different colored tulips have different meanings. The red flowers symbolize true love while purple represents loyalty.

Natural environment, Flower, Red, Petal, Natural landscape, Landscape, Leaf, Field, Plantation, Ecoregion, pinterest

8. Make a mistake? White tulips mean "I'm sorry."

Yellow, Plant, Petal, Flower, Purple, Flowering plant, Botany, Spring, Magenta, Close-up, pinterest

9. Tulips are also said to signal the arrival of spring.

Nature, Natural environment, Plant, Petal, Flower, Magenta, Landscape, Purple, Red, Pink, pinterest

10. Tulips are native to central Asia but didn't really become popular until reaching the Netherlands. 

Natural foods, Local food, Purple, Produce, Vegetable, Whole food, Violet, Ingredient, Food, Vegan nutrition, pinterest

11. The Parkinson's Disease Foundation uses a tulip as its symbol. 

Colorfulness, Yellow, Line, Orange, Purple, Electric blue, Parallel, Majorelle blue, pinterest

12. Tulips were once the most expensive flower...

Petal, Yellow, Flower, Flowering plant, Botany, Sunlight, Bud, Plant stem, Spring, Garden roses, pinterest

13. ...And in the 1600s, they were even said to cost 10 times more than a working man's average salary in the Netherlands, making them more valuable than some homes.

Nature, Natural environment, Plant, Purple, Flower, Atmosphere, Atmospheric phenomenon, Magenta, Violet, Lavender, pinterest

14. The time period where the flower was so expensive (around 1634 to 1637) is now known as "Tulip Mania." 

Petal, Flower, Fixture, Flower Arranging, Cut flowers, Floristry, Stone wall, Floral design, Herbaceous plant, Tulip, pinterest

15. Tulip petals are edible and can be used in place of onions in many recipes.

Yellow, Purple, Flower, Violet, Lavender, Leaf, Petal, Magenta, Pink, Botany, pinterest

16. The Netherlands is the world's largest commercial producer of tulips, with around three billion exported each year. 

Green, Textile, Red, Colorfulness, Pink, Magenta, Pattern, Line, Purple, Tints and shades, pinterest

17. If you cut tulips, they'll continue to grow in your vase for at least another inch. 

Yellow, Flower, Petal, Flowerpot, Botany, Vase, Plant stem, Flowering plant, Still life photography, Spring, pinterest

18. According to The New York Times, the best time to plant tulip bulbs is in the fall so they can grow roots before it gets too cold. 

Petal, Flower, Pink, Flowering plant, Botany, Spring, Plant stem, Field, Meadow, Wildflower, pinterest

19. Tulips will bend and twist to grow towards light (even in a vase!). 

Leaf, Petal, Peach, Still life photography, Bud, Natural material, Flower Arranging, Floral design, pinterest
From: Country Living US
Headshot of Rebecca Shinners
Rebecca Shinners
Social Media Editor

Rebecca was the social media editor at CountryLiving.com and WomansDay.com.