< Tulip

The name tulip comes from the Turkish for turban, referring to the shape of the flowerbud; although native to Turkey, tulips are now grown in Holland and the UK, particularly Lincolnshire.

Their plain wine-glass shape has a modern simplicity, and tulips are very popular for spring wedding bouquets as well as home displays. In their natural season they are very reasonably priced flowers, and a perfect emblem of spring for many of us.

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Muscari>

Muscari are fairly well-known as garden plants; but now they are available as cut flowers and potted bulbs for indoors too. They are tiny spires of bells, in shades of blue, including navy, and also lilac and white. The botanical name comes from their delicate faint musky scent.

The common name is grape hyacinth, from the way their flowerhead resembles that of a hyacinth. The flower is native to Greece and the Middle East, but has been grown in the UK since 1576.

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< Gerbera

Gerbera were first imported to Europe from South Africa in the 19th century. Few people then would have suspected gerbera would become so popular, with over 200 varieties, in almost every colour but blue, green and purple.

Breeders have also developed new forms of gerbera, as well as colours; with petals that look ragged and shredded - as seen in this trend- to frilled double flowers and extra wide petals.

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< Hyacinth

Hyacinths are widely available as cut flowers and potted forced bulbs for the home. Just a few stems of this flower can perfume a whole room.

First cultivated in Austria in the 1500s, the bulbs are now grown in Holland and Great Britain. Varieties come in all colours including pure white, salmon, delicate pink and baby blue. More unusual colours to look for include dark wine purples, rosy reds, navy, egg-yolk yellows and soft oranges.

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Iris>

The iris flower is very distinctive; three broad petals fold back from the stem to form the points of a triangle, while three smaller petals stand up from the centre.

The name refers to Iris, fleet-footed messenger of the gods in Greek mythology. She provided a link between earth and heaven, via her symbol, the rainbow. Iris don't come in all the colours of the rainbow, but they do come in all the colours of the heavens - pure white, baby blue, sunshine yellow, rich blue and deep navy.

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