Tulip Fields, Keukenhof, The Netherlands

Cultivation
Tulips are indigenous to mountainous areas with temperate climates and need a period of cool dormancy. They do best in climates with long, cool springs and early summers. Although perennials, they are often replanted annually in warmer areas of the world.
The bulbs are typically planted around late summer and fall in well-drained soils, normally from 4 inches (10 cm) to 8 inches (20 cm) deep, depending on the type planted. In parts of the world that do not have long cool springs and early summers though, the bulbs are often planted up to 12 inches (300 mm) deep. This provides some protection from the heat of summer and tends to force the plants to regenerate one large bulb each year instead of many smaller non-blooming ones. This can extend the life of the plant in warmer areas by a few years, but it does not stave off degradation in bulb size and the eventual death of the plant.