There is a rich history of “Tulip Diplomacy” between the United States and The Netherlands. In Part One of this blog, we learned about the inaugural four first ladies of flowers- Frances Folsom Cleveland, Grace Coolidge, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Lady Bird Johnson.

While it’s nearly impossible to find information about the first four first lady tulips, there is a good amount of information about the last four- Barbara Bush, HIllary Clinton, Laura Bush and Jill Biden

Jill Biden tulips on display.
Photo by Stephen Voss. Courtesy of ibulb.

“The new idea was to create plant combinations that would be successful in subsequent years, which also gave rise to a new perspective: combining spring flowering bulbs with perennials. In the Netherlands the exporters together with the growers built up a new market for perennials, and the exporters to the USA anticipated on this development and created a large market for bare root plants of Hosta, day Lily, peony and many more varieties of perennial plants. One of the most impressive results was planting the gardens at the White House. Our representative for promotional activities in the USA, Ms Sally Ferguson, played a very important role in this accomplishment. Three first ladies baptized their own tulip during that period: Mrs. Barbara Bush, Mrs. Hillary Clinton and Mrs. Laura Bush. The whole world was looking for Dutch tulips.”

— FRANS ROOZEN- 50 YEARS OF FLOWERBULB RESEARCH IN NORTH AMERICA

TULIPA BARBARA BUSH

“In November 1991, first lady Barbara Bush was presented with a tulip at the official residence of Prime Minister Ruud Lubbers while President George H.W. Bush was meeting with European Community leaders in Amsterdam. Barbara Bush said at the time that she would plant her variety in the garden of the family vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine.”

According to a 1991 Los Angeles Times article- “Mrs. Bush doused one of the new hybrid tulips with champagne and remarked on its color: [a blush light pink]

“Beautiful, really. Just my favorite.””

The Barbara Bush tulip was available on the regular retail market but with some searching- I was unable to find and bulbs being offered currently.

TULIPA HILLARY CLINTON

According to an LA Times Article, Mrs.Clinton recieved her tulip in 1994,.

“Hillary Rodham Clinton christened a magenta-and-white tulip named in her honor with a sprinkling of Champagne Tuesday as it was presented to her on a silver platter.

The “Hillary Clinton” tulip was dubbed an official breed by Adriaan Jacobovits de Szeged, the Netherlands ambassador to the United States.

“I am thrilled,” the First Lady said after reading the traditional tulip toast.

“May your planting each fall recall the need of foresight. May your long winter’s sleep suggest patience. May your blooming each spring inspire joy and renewal,” she read.”

TULIPA LAURA BUSH

As written in the Gazette Times “The Tulipa Laura Bush, (was) cultivated in honor of the "gracious, current first lady, Mrs. Laura Bush," is a blend of white and pink -- her stated preference -- and was presented to her at a ceremony at the residence of the Dutch ambassador, Boudewijn Johannes van Eenennaam.”

Presidental pups Barney and Miss Beazley admiring Hyacinth and Tulipa “Laura Bush” in the East Garden of The White House

Photo Provided by George W Bush Presidental Library Facebook

Jill Biden Tulip-
photo by Stephen Voss- Courtesy of ibulb

TULIPA JILL BIDEN

The tradition of tulip diplomacy still carries on to this day in The United States. In 2023 a new tulip was officially named after the current U.S. administrations first lady.

Floral Daily details- “During Dutch Tulip Days, the newest tulip will be formally named in honor of First Lady Jill Biden and accepted into the official tulip registry of the Royal General Bulb Growers Association of the Netherlands.

The ceremony, which will take place at the Ambassador's Residence in Washington, D.C., on April 5, will highlight the diversity and strength of bilateral ties between the Netherlands and the United States.

At the ceremony, the First Lady will continue a centuries-old tradition and accept the Tulipa "Jill Biden." -