• Tulips grow from bulbs.pink tulip image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
  
  Many flowers grow from bulbs. Some examples of flowers that begin as bulbs are tulips, hyacinths and snowdrops. Bulbs are easy to grow because all the nutrients a flower needs is located inside the bulb. If you cut a bulb in half, sometimes you can see the tiny flower bud and the beginnings of the flower. Plant the bulb in soil and water it, and it will almost always grow into a flower.
  
  

Tunic

• The tunic is the papery outer covering of the bulb. This skin is similar to that of garlic. It keeps the bulb from drying out and allows it to remain dormant until it is planted and watered. It also protects the bulb from damage.
  
  

Scales

• The scales are located just inside the bulb's tunic. If you cut a bulb in half, it looks like an onion with the scales forming layers. Scales are similar to leaves, and they contain all the nutrients the bulb needs to grow out of the soil and turn into a plant. Scales also help keep the bulb warm so that the flower bud inside it does not die.
  
  

Flower Bud

• The flower bud is located at the bulb's center. This is the most delicate part of the bulb. If it freezes, it will never flower. The flower bud is a tiny flower. In many cases, if you remove the flower bud from a bulb you can see its tiny flower parts under a microscope. The flower bud will live off the nutrients provided by the scales until it is large enough to push out of the earth.
  
  

Basal Stem

• The basal stem, also known as the basal plate, is located at the bulb's bottom. It is a compressed, or much shortened, stem. The basal stem performs the basic functions of a stem in a flower. It connects the roots, scales and flower bud of the bulb, unifying the inner workings of the bulb.
  
  

Roots

• The roots extend out of the basal stem. They function the same as roots of other plants. They extend into the soil and soak up water and nutrients. Some bulbs need to be planted deep in the soil so that the roots can function properly. Others should be planted with part of the bulb showing out of the top of the ground. Find out how deeply the roots should be planted, depending on the type of bulb you choose.