Bosschaert’s painting depicts 15 flowering tulips planted in the ground, 12 of which are characteristically striped or flamed with red on a white, cream or yellow base colour. They are all a type called Rembrandt tulips, which can be dated to about 1610. They are still cultivated today for exhibition purposes. A frog, a large white (cabbage) butterfly, a caterpillar, a red admiral butterfly and a fly reinforce the naturalistic expression.