Tulips are vibrant, cup-shaped flowering bulbs celebrated for their elegant simplicity and extraordinary diversity of colours and forms. Belonging to the genus *Tulipa* in the family Liliaceae, they are true perennials that emerge faithfully each spring from bulbs planted the previous autumn. Tulip flowers grow on upright stems typically ranging from 25 to 60 cm tall, each bearing a single bloom composed of six petal-like tepals. They come in a breathtaking spectrum of colours — red, pink, yellow, white, purple, orange, and multicoloured or striped forms — with petals that may be smooth, fringed, ruffled, or parrot-like depending on the variety. Tulips require a cold winter dormancy period to trigger spring flowering, making them ideally suited to gardens with distinct cold seasons. In warmer climates, bulbs can be pre-chilled in a refrigerator before planting to simulate this requirement. They are prized for their use in garden borders, containers, and as cut flowers in arrangements. Historically, tulips were at the centre of 'Tulip Mania' in the 17th century, one of the first recorded speculative economic bubbles. Today they remain one of the most widely cultivated flowering bulbs in the world, beloved by gardeners for their reliability, bold colour, and the unmistakable signal they bring that spring has arrived.