Tulips delivered in Helsinki: the spring you wait for after the dark winter
Tulips in Helsinki are a promise of light. After a long, dark winter they are the first to bring colour back into the home. Finns greet them with special joy: here the tulip isn't just a flower but a sign that the day is growing longer again.
This flower is just as good on its own as in company. Its simplicity is deceptive: in a bouquet tulips look fresh and smart, without any fuss.
Which tulips come to Helsinki
Most tulips are Dutch, from the Royal FloraHolland auction. In winter and early spring local Finnish ones join in, grown under glass: Finland has a long tradition of greenhouse horticulture, and the trip to Helsinki is a short one. Here are the popular varieties:
- Strong Gold — bright yellow, classic, hardy.
- Ile de France — rich red, a firm bud.
- Foxtrot — double pink, peony-like.
- Negrita — violet-purple, striking.
How to care for tulips
Tulips keep growing even in the vase — that's normal. Put them in cool water and don't pour in too much: tulips dislike deep water. Keep them away from radiators and fruit. Change the water every day, and tulips will last 5–7 days.
"A tulip is a living flower even after it's cut. It reaches for the light and grows in the vase. Turn the bouquet's other side to the window, and in an hour you'll see how it has changed."
— Aino Virtanen, florist, Helsinki, 14 years in the trade
When people give tulips in Helsinki
The tulip's peak is late winter and spring. They're given on Ystävänpäivä (Friend's Day, 14 February), on 8 March, and simply to lift the mood through the darkest months. By Vappu, the May Day celebration, the city is fairly bursting into bloom.
Cut the stems straight, not at an angle, and keep the bouquet somewhere cool. We deliver tulips across Helsinki, with payment in euros (€, EUR).
The tulip is always about hope and warmth. Give one, and spring arrives at home a little ahead of schedule.
