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The parentage of Single Early Tulips other than those from the Duc van Tol group is not so clearly traceable to particular wild species. Some have pointed petals and look almost lily-flowered, in others they are much more rounded. However, they are all very low to low, from 20-40 cm. By crossing them and raising the seedlings, differently coloured flowers and shapes were found. This process took five to seven years. Selected cultivars could be propagated in a few years from the bulbs that emerged from the mother bulb. Some old cultivars from the 17th century - Alba Regalis, Lac van Rijn, Paragon Everwijn - and from the 18th century - Emperor's Crown, Yellow Prince, Cramoisi Brilliant, Weapon of Leiden - remained in production for a long time. This was not only because they were strong cultivars, but it was also because no better ones were found in all that time. In the days of Tulipomania, naming was mainly to emphasise the cultivar's excellent qualities, such as “royal white” and “the topper of Everwijn”.
