John Boots, Creator of the Super Parrot Tulip

John Boots

If you want to know something about tulips, John Boots would be the right person to ask. He has been breeding and growing tulips in Hem, Holland, for almost 40 years. John studied horticulture at the Royal School of Horticulture and took classes there for years, but he feels it's his hands-on work in the field—since 1969—that has taught him the most about growing and breeding tulips.

Today, John and his family grow 55 acres of tulips each year and force more than 2.5 million tulips in greenhouses for the cut-flower industry. Between the indoor and outdoor operations, John estimates that they harvest about 13 million tulips a year.

What is it about tulips that excites John? "My father and grandfather were bulb growers, so I grew up in the business. But my work is also my hobby," says John. "I'm particularly interested in special new tulip varieties with unusual traits," he says.

One of John's most famous breeding accomplishments is the Super Parrot tulip. He was growing out a field of White Dream tulips and discovered a single blossom with an interesting color and shape. After 15 years of breeding, refining and multiplying, he recently introduced the Super Parrot tulip to the world's flower growers. The green markings on this wavy, white tulip flower are so striking, they resemble the brush strokes of an artist.

Another new tulip that's still in the works is a sport of the tulip Yellow Flight. This popular, deep-yellow tulip has a pointed bloom and a strong growth habit. John's variation has red speckles throughout the yellow flower. It's an exciting new look, but is still 6 to 7 years away from being introduced.

John is a member of the 27-year-old organization called Hybris. This consortium of six large growers is breeding and growing tulips especially for the cut-flower market. In total, Hybris-bred tulips are now being grown on 550 acres of land in Holland. Some of their "claim to fame" varieties include Lydia, Barcelona and Verona. They have a particular interest in breeding tulips that have superior disease resistance.

Lydia is pink tulip with ruffled petals that make it look like a double, though it's actually a single flower. Barcelona is a traditional tulip form, with fuchsia flowers that have a purple sheen on the stems. Verona is an early blooming variety with fluffy, pale yellow blooms.

Tulip lovers can look forward to many new introductions over the coming years—and John Boots will surely have a role in creating some of the very best.