Tulips are plants that bloom in early spring. The flowers are cup-shaped and very colorful. They are among the most popular garden flowers. There are about 4,000 varieties of tulip. They belong to the lily family.
Tulips first grew in south-central Asia. People brought the flowers to Europe in the 1500s and later to many different parts of the world. The Netherlands became the center of tulip production in the 1600s. It still is today.
Tulips normally grow from bulbs that are planted in autumn. Each bulb produces a plant each