The James Parkinson Tulip: An Ottawa Introduction into Canada

The familiar red and white James Parkinson tulip is a symbol of Parkinson’s – a symbol of hope for a cure. It also has become both an awareness and fundraising tool across Canada. But not many people know its origin, or its strong Ottawa roots.

In 1980, a Dutch horticulturist named J.W.S. Van der Wereld developed a hearty tulip, which he named in honour of Dr. James Parkinson.  Mr. Van der Wereld himself had Parkinson’s.

The tulip received the Award of Merit that same year from the Royal Horticultural Society in London England, and in 1981 it received the Trial Garden Award from the Royal General Bulb Growers of Holland.

Its description as registered in Holland is a flower whose “exterior, glowing cardinal red, small feathered white edge, outer base whitish; inside, currant-red to turkey-red, broad feathered white edge, anthers pale yellow.”

In 1984, the Parkinson’s Disease Society of Ottawa-Carleton (as it was called then) heard about this newly developed tulip and arranged to import bulbs for sale in the Ottawa area.  That year, the Society sold 10,000 bulbs with the proceeds going to Parkinson’s research.

In 1985, the Society sold 12,000 bulbs, and by then the flower was receiving rave reviews from gardeners, as the tulip would bloom for 4 weeks – an unheard of length of time for tulips.  The Society in Ottawa was awarded the exclusive rights to distribute the bulb across Canada.

Soon after, the Parkinson Foundation of Canada (now Parkinson Society Canada) began to sell the bulbs across the country through its national network of regional partners.

Parkinson Society Ottawa still sells the bulbs, which are available beginning in September. 

Source:  The Parkinson Paper – Spring 1986, The St. John’s Regional Chapter, Newfoundland and Labrador