04/29/2026
April is Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Awareness Month. Did you know that more than 10 million people worldwide are living with PD?! The red tulip is the official symbol for PD and is used by organizations worldwide to raise awareness and show support for those living with PD.
Why the Tulip? 🌷 In 1980, J.W.S. Van der Wereld, a Dutch horticulturist with Parkinson's disease, developed a red and white variant of the tulip. He named it the "Dr. James Parkinson" tulip in honor of the man who first described PD in 1817. The tulip was adopted as the official symbol of PD at the 9th World Parkinson’s Disease Day Conference in Luxembourg on April 11, 2005.
Three-Petal Symbolism: The tulip symbolizes hope, passion, and admiration for those living with the disease. Some interpretations suggest the three petals represent education, research, and advocacy.
Tulips are some of the earliest signs of spring, as they bloom from March to May. Here at Northeast Rehab they are another reminder of “why” we care (see link in comments for more info about PD therapy).
We hope that when you see a tulip you will think about the significance of the three petals and the 10 million people living with PD.