In the Netherlands, the tulip baptism is a long-standing tradition. When a newly cultivated flower is named after a person, it is considered a great honor. The internationally renowned Belgian Tomas De Bruyne (see page 28) has now received this honor for the second time: after a Gloriosa, a tulip now also bears his name. The fringed, white-pink Tulipa 'Tomas De Bruyne' was officially baptized in 2024 and christened with champagne.
It took 17 years for this new variety to reach the market.
The process begins with the crossbreeding of two tulips—in this case, Holland Snow and Lingerie. It takes four to five years for bulbs to form from their seeds and for them to bloom for the first time. From hundreds of specimens, three to four particularly beautiful, vigorous, and resilient ones are selected, and their numbers are doubled each year.
For the baptism ceremony, florist Tomas De Bruyne—true to his signature style—created an eight-meter-high installation as a stage for the new tulip. "This is not only a great honor for me but also a timeless recognition of the dedication, passion, and craftsmanship I invest in the world of flowers," says De Bruyne. ᴥ