Here’s a Tulip from my garden, that I think has the virus that created the variegated tulips that were the focus of the 17th century Dutch Tulipmania! From Wikipedia “At the peak of tulip mania in February 1637, some single tulip bulbs sold for more than 10 times the annual income of a skilled craftsman.” in a different article on Wikipedia “Historically variegated varieties admired during the Dutch tulipomania gained their delicately feathered patterns from an infection with Tulip Breaking potyvirus, the mosaic virus that was carried by the green peach aphids, Myzus persicae. Persicae were common in European gardens of the seventeenth century. While the virus produces fantastically colourful flowers, it also caused weakened plants that died slowly. Today the virus is almost eradicated from tulip growers’ fields. Those Tulips affected by mosaic virus are called “Broken tulips”; they will occasionally revert to a plain or solid colouring, but still remain infected with the virus.” (That part about the peach aphid is interesting as this tulip is growing not 10 feet from a peach tree!)
Rachel Ruysch is credited as being the most famous Dutch flower painter, here’s a painting of hers titled Stilleben mit Blumen und Früchten, 1707. (And believe me, it’s one thing to see a digital reproduction of these dutch flower paintings and it is quite another to see the real thing in a museum! The detail and clarity are amazing when seen in person!!)
Here in my very own garden, It seems that I’ve stumbled upon a little piece of history! I believe this tulip has the virus and isn’t just a variegated cultivar for a few reasons. First, I don’t have any other variegated tulips anywhere from the mixes I have bought. Second, this tulip does appear to be sort of weak and smaller. And thirdly because of the irregularity of the patterning. Turns out, I’m the richest 17th century Dutch woman I know!
Happy Friday everyone!
Carmen Riveros says
Thanks for sharing, I loved the tulips and the Dutch floral desing