Flower Library
Siam Tulip
Curcuma · Zingiberaceae
Curcuma, the Siam tulip, is an ornamental ginger with a flower head reminiscent of a lotus or a very refined tulip: shingled bracts in pink, deep pink or white. Many people do not realise it is the sister of the turmeric spice from the kitchen. As a cut flower it is a summer performer with astonishing staying power of two to three weeks. We buy it fresh at the Veiling Rhein-Maas through the summer months.
- Season
- June – July – August – September
- Vase life
- 14–21 days
- Latin name
- Curcuma
- Colors
- Pink, Deep pink, White, Green-white, Violet-tinted
What looks like petals on the curcuma are coloured bracts — the actual small flowers sit hidden between them. That is the secret of its long vase life: bracts fade far more slowly than true petals, a principle it shares with anthurium and strelitzia.
The trade mainly carries Curcuma alismatifolia in pinks from soft rosé to strong magenta, plus white and greenish-white varieties. The stems are smooth and upright, carrying the flower head like a torch — a very graphic appearance.
In floristry the Siam tulip is a rewarding soloist: three to five stems in a simple vase already feel complete. In bouquets it combines well with other exotics such as anthuriums and orchids or with clean-lined grasses; rustic, playful fillers suit its strict form less.
As a child of the tropics it is cold-sensitive — the single most important care point. Below about ten degrees the bracts develop glassy, brown patches. It therefore never belongs in the fridge and should not travel unprotected in winter, which also explains why it is a summer flower in the range.
Fresh stock shows plump, neatly shingled bracts with firm tips and a green, sturdy stem. Once the bract tips turn papery or brown the bloom is past its peak — though with good care that takes pleasingly long.
Is Siam Tulip toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
The ginger family is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people — making curcuma a good exotic choice for pet households. Eating the ornamental plant is still not advised.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Cut the stems at an angle and place them in a clean vase with fresh, room-temperature water.
- 02Keep it warm: never below ten degrees, so no fridge and no cold windowsill in winter.
- 03Change the water every two to three days and recut the stem each time.
- 04Avoid direct midday sun; a bright spot without draughts is ideal.
- 05Individual faded bract tips can be trimmed off carefully.
- 06Have it wrapped well for winter transport — cold damage only shows days later.
Frequently asked
- Is the Siam tulip the same as the spice turmeric?
- Same genus, different species: the spice comes from the roots of Curcuma longa, while the cut flower is usually Curcuma alismatifolia, bred for beautiful flower heads rather than root yield. The family resemblance shows in the torch-shaped blooms of both.
- How long does curcuma last in the vase?
- Two to three weeks are normal for fresh stems — putting it among the longest-lasting cut flowers there are. The trick is that the coloured parts are bracts, which age far more slowly than true petals. The prerequisites are a warm spot and regular water changes.
- Is curcuma toxic to cats or dogs?
- No, the ginger family is considered non-toxic to cats, dogs and people — the root of a sister species even ends up in food as a spice. That makes the Siam tulip one of the loveliest exotic options for pet households. Deliberate nibbling on the vase is still best discouraged.
- Why is my curcuma getting brown patches?
- Almost always cold damage. This tropical flower does not tolerate temperatures below about ten degrees — a cold journey home or storage in the fridge shows up days later as glassy, then brown patches on the bracts. Stems bought and kept warm stay flawless.