Where do tulips originally come from?

The attempts to trace the exact history of the Tulip have been thwarted by a lack of reliable documentation over the centuries although art from as early as the 12th century does give some clues. read more

Tulips originally were found in a band stretching from Southern Europe to Central Asia, but since the seventeenth century have become widely naturalised and cultivated (see map). In their natural state they are adapted to steppes and mountainous areas with temperate climates. read more

From there, Tulips expanded with a lot of help from humans. The sultans of the Ottoman Empire were the first Tulip fanatics who drove cultivation of the flower, and trade from there led the Tulip to Europe and the rest of the world. read more

Wikipedia cites three competing theories: It is unclear who first brought the Tulip to northwest Europe. read more