When spring arrives and tulips begin to bloom, you may notice one particular flower appearing alongside Parkinson’s awareness campaigns: the red tulip.

But why has the tulip become such an important symbol for Parkinson’s disease?

In this blog, we’ll explore the history of the Parkinson’s tulip, how it became an international symbol and how you can use it to show your support for people living with Parkinson’s.

The History of the Parkinson’s Tulip

The connection between tulips and Parkinson’s began in the early 1980s with Dutch horticulturist J.W.S. Van der Wereld, who was living with Parkinson’s himself.

Van der Wereld developed a distinctive red-and-white tulip and named it the Dr James Parkinson tulip, in honour of the English doctor who first described the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in his 1817 publication, An Essay on the Shaking Palsy.

The tulip was later adopted by Parkinson’s organisations around the world. In 2005, at the 9th World Parkinson’s Disease Day conference in Luxembourg, the red tulip was formally adopted as the worldwide symbol of Parkinson’s disease.

Today, the tulip remains closely associated with Parkinson’s awareness and is used by organisations and communities around the world.

The Red Tulip Symbol

The tulip you see used in Parkinson’s awareness today is often a stylised version of the flower.

American artist and early-onset Parkinson’s patient Karen Painter designed a distinctive red tulip symbol in which the leaves can be seen as forming the letters P and D, representing Parkinson’s Disease.

The simple design has become an instantly recognisable way to raise awareness and show support for the Parkinson’s community.