Tulip of the Week: Admiral Van Der Eijck

Creator: Unknown
Registration date: Unknown
Cultivar Group: Rembrandt group

There has been a lot of discussion recently about 'Bitcoin' creating a new economic bubble. As Tulip Lovers, we can't help be reminded of the first known bubble in recorded history, a time when the price of Tulips soared to unimaginable levels before suddenly plummeting back down - better known as Tulip Mania (see our article on what caused it here).

This week's featured Tulip is picked from that time. While the 'Semper Augustus' may seem the obvious choice given its title as "most expensive bulb ever", we wanted to use this opportunity to demonstrate that the craze went much further. Admiral van der Eijck (pronounced "van-dare-ike") was another rare bulb of the age. Like others, it was a "Broken" or "Rembrandt" Tulip - its colors splitting between a flat white and a lovely, soft red. Sadly, this Tulip no longer exists today, and so we are left to enjoy it only through art and illustrations.

We are working in partnership with the KAVB to highlight the incredible variety of Tulips by sharing different flowers every week. The KAVB (Royal General Association for Bulb Culture), established in 1860, today acts as the international registration authority for all Tulips (along with several other flowers), and works to protect and support bulb growers around the world.