All About Hyacinth – History, Meaning, Facts, Care & More

March 7 is celebrated as the World Hyacinth Day. If you can smell that lovely scent of spring, you are definitely near the flowers of Hyacinth. The flowers of Hyacinth come from the Hyacinthaceae family under hyacinthus genus. The most common variety is the Hyacinthus Orientalis, which is a flower that looks like a starfish in the ocean. On the other hand, there are around 30 species of Hyacinthus and most of them are perennial flowering plants. Some of them differ in appearance and shape, just like the Grape Hyacinth that resembles the shape of grapes in a cluster.

• History of Hyacinth

Originating from Anatolia and brought eventually to Europe, Hyacinth flowers and plants were grown in Turkey, Middle East, and Mediterranean shores. During the Greeks and Romans era, this plant was brought to Europe because of its distinct sweet fragrance. For quite some time, the flower was forgotten until 16th Century when Leonhardt Rauwolf of Germany collected the flowers in Turkey in 1573 and brought it to Western Europe. Since then, the flowers were cultivated and became popular throughout Europe. It became a common garden plant in every house and grounds. Until now, the flowers are commercially grown for the perfumery industry in Europe. In fact, it is also referred to as the Dutch Hyacinth today.

In Greek mythology, Greeks described the origin of this flower in their myths. It was believed that Apollo and Zephyr adored Hyakinthos, a young Greek. One day, while Apollo teaches Hyakinthos how to throw a discus, Zephyr got jealous. He threw the discus back but it hit Hyakinthos and killed him. His blood dropped on the ground and the flower grew from there. Apollo named it after him.

Another word from which the name Hyacinth was derived is Jacinth. Jacinth is a blue gemstone, and it was used to refer to the beautiful blue colored flower of Hyacinth.

• Hyacinth Flower Meaning

Hyacinth flowers represent different things depending on color, arrangement, and characteristics. It signifies sincerity to the person you love or to the family or group you belong to. When you give this flower in a beautiful arrangement, it could also remind them of your good intention. On the other hand, the flower also means jealousy, rashness, and sorrow. Sometimes, it can be offensive to give this flower, especially to someone who knows what it means.

Yellow Hyacinth may mean happiness and cheerfulness, but it can also mean disapproval on something. Purple Hyacinth represents sorrow and grief. It is not good to send it to the person you want to express love to but it can be an ideal gift to someone in great sorrow to convey your support and comfort.

White Hyacinth is a symbol of prayers for someone who needs direction or success. Red Hyacinth means to love and romance, but it can also mean recreation, playtime, and being sportive.

• Facts About Hyacinth

The flowers of Hyacinth come in different varieties. There are single bulbs, double bulbs, and multiflora. Single bulbs Hyacinth has the full head, sometimes even bigger in size. The Blue Giant is one example of single bulbs. The double bulbs have fluffy whorls of 10-12 inches high and colorful blooms. One example of this type is the Hollyhock Hyacinth. Multiflora, on the other hand, has a less formal structure because it has a number of flower stalks in one bloom mostly with loose arrangement.

The flowers bloom in mid-spring season. The reddish-purple blooms and dark green leaves of Hyacinth are lined up in the field covering the ground with its beauty and fragrance. Some patios, pathways, and decks are also landscaped with these flowers.

Aside from beauty, Hyacinths offer several benefits to health, skin, and other matters. Hyacinth is known to be toxic but the leaves, sap, bulbs, and bean of this plant are useful for many types of diseases and ailments. They are used in dishes because of the flavorings and scent they provide. They are also used for the treatment of Eczema, skin problems, hair problems, and more. They also help lower down cholesterol levels, improve digestion, relieve sore throat, treat snake bites, and provide instant relief for cholera and female problems.

To remove toxins from the beans, thorough and proper cooking is required. Ancient people boil Hyacinth in clean water twice before consumption. In the modern age, people stir fry the beans and boil them thoroughly to make them safe to eat or use for medicinal purposes. It is important to know what the doctors say before using it for remedies.

• How to Care for Hyacinth

Expert Florist shares that hyacinths are best to plant during the fall season, usually in the months of September to November. Consider planting them in groups or together so that each one can support the other one. They are known to grow as tall as 3 feet high. They need partial to full sun exposure, slightly acidic but well-drained soil, regular watering, fertilizers and plant food once in a while and low humidity. They want extra time to chill during the winter months while in the dormancy stage.

Aside from growing them in the garden soil in your backyard or front yard, Hyacinth plants can grow well, too in containers. Soil for Potted plants should be a little damp but not soaking. You may need to water the plants more often whenever the soil dries out. They will bloom longer and fuller when kept in cool temperatures. Some flower shops sell pre-chilled bulbs that are good for planting.