Hyacinthus orientalis (Dutch Hyacinth) (2024)

FAQs

What is the story behind hyacinth flower? ›

In honor of his lover, Apollo makes a flower spring up from Hyacinthus' blood. Confusingly, this flower isn't actually what we today call a hyacinth. Most sources agree that it was most likely an iris or a larkspur, since the myth tells us that Apollo writes on the flower the sound of his grief (Ai, Ai).

Find Your Planting Zone:

In the flower world, purple is common but blue is very rare. In fact, true blue is the rarest color in flowers. So here you have it--all the heavenly fragrance of the hyacinth and true blue, too!

After your hyacinths have finished flowering, remove the blooms, but don't remove the foliage. The bulbs need their leaves to gather energy for next year's blooms. At the end of the spring season, the foliage will die back naturally. Remove when the leaves have turned brown to help prevent fungal diseases.

Sun or Shade: For the largest flowers and straightest stems, plant your hyacinths in full sun. The bulbs will also flower in light shade or half-day sun. Hardiness Zone: Hyacinths are winter hardy in growing zones 4-8. In warmer climates, the bulbs need to be pre-chilled before planting.

In Greek mythology, Hyacinthus was a Spartan youth accidentally killed by Apollo, from whose blood sprang a beautiful and fragrant flower, and it is also the name of several saints; Hyacinth became exclusively female in the nineteenth century.

Hyacinth as a girl's name is of Greek origin for a flower and a color that ranges from sapphire to violet.

Hyacinth bulbs are poisonous; they contain oxalic acid. Handling hyacinth bulbs can cause mild skin irritation. Protective gloves are recommended.

How long do hyacinth live? Unfortunately, hyacinth bulbs are short-lived and will probably last only three or four years. 4 Many people treat them as annuals and replace them yearly due to decline. This is also a normal growing method in warm-winter zones for gardeners who don't wish to dig up and chill the bulbs.

Like tulips and daffodils, hyacinths are an iconic spring flower. Their showy spikes of blooms in shades of blue, purple, white, pink, apricot and red pop up at the end of winter when you're really excited to see flowers. Best of all, hyacinth blooms last for two weeks or more, longer than other spring bulbs.

Hyacinths are perennial and will happily bloom year after year if you care for them properly. They originated in the hot, dry mountains of Turkey and love basking in the sun so choose a warm, bright spot to plant them and make sure the soil does not get too soggy.

Can you leave hyacinth bulbs in pots? ›

Plant as many bulbs in the pot as you want, as long as they don't touch the side or each other. Water the bulbs to settle the soil, then bring the pots to a cool, dark place where it won't get warmer than 45F, like a shed or an unheated basem*nt or garage.

After Your Hyacinth is Done Blooming

While you should have kept their leaves intact as long as possible, it's now safe to trim them back to just the bulb and roots. Cut back dead foliage to the base of the bulb and store the whole pot in a cool, dry, and dark space for some beauty sleep. Do not water or feed the plant.

After 8 to 12 weeks of blooming, your hyacinth will begin to go dormant. First the flowers will die, and eventually the leaves will wither.

If you are planting them in containers indoors, they need to have their snouts just poking through the compost. If grown in the garden or in pots outside they are better planted about 10-15cm deep.

Propagation: Hyacinth bulbs will spread and multiply if left in the ground to return the next year; however, they will generally only last 3 or 4 years.

According to this classical tale, Hyacinthus died as a result of his own clumsiness when he threw a discus during a competition, wounding himself mortally in the head. Another version of the tale has it that it was Apollo who threw the discus, accidentally killing the youth as it rebounded off the ground or a rock.

According to the usual version, his great beauty attracted the love of Apollo, who killed him accidentally while teaching him to throw the discus; others related that Zephyrus (or Boreas) out of jealousy deflected the discus so that it hit Hyacinthus on the head and killed him.

Having fallen head over heels for the mortal man Hyacinthus, the god Apollo gives up his shrine at Delphi, his famous lyre, and his bow and arrow, to spend all his time with his new love. On one tragic day, while the couple is having a friendly competition of discus throwing, Apollo makes a throw that cuts the clouds.

Hyacinth is a variant form of the given name Hyacinthe. The name is derived from a Greek word meaning the blue larkspur flower or the colour purple. English variant forms include Hyacintha or Hyacinthia.

Gareth St.

Gareth marries Hyacinth Bridgerton. Hyacinth and Gareth have two children together: George and Isabella.

How old is the name hyacinth? ›

The name “hyacinth” itself can be traced back to remote antiquity, a relict of a non-Greek language, sometimes called Thracopelasgian, spoken some 4,000 years ago.

The cooked young pods are said to be edible, but once they are mature, probably not. The hardened, mature seeds are somewhat toxic, and probably need to be boiled several times to make them safe to eat. It might be better for you gardeners out there to enjoy this plant visually, and stick to butter-beans for supper.

Plants that attract mosquitoes include:

Water lilies. Water hyacinths. Water lettuce. Taro.

Leaves also may be steamed as greens, or added to soups and stews. Their flavor and texture resemble celery. This is one wild plant that can be harvested without fear of depleting it; water hyacinths reproduce prodigiously.

Hyacinths will thrive in a bright location, but do best kept away from direct sunlight and heat. The roots should be in the water. Do not submerge the bulbs. Simply keep water level to the bottom of the bulbs.

Hyacinths have a powerful scent which can be described as floral green with vegetal aquatic accents and sweet and spicy notes. Lilac has a sweet, delicate floral fragrance close to that of lily of the valley with sweet powdery balsamic notes.

The time for your new “bulbs” to reach flowering size depends on the kind of bulb and the method of propagation: a year for a daffodil offset, a couple of years for a crocus cormel or lily scale, three or four years for hyacinth bulblets.

You have two choices: You can leave the hyacinth bulbs in the ground all winter, or you can dig them up and store them indoors in a cool, dark, dry place until the following fall or winter. To store them, spread them out in a shallow box and place them in a dry, cool location like the garage.

Hyacinths are one of the most popular spring flower bulbs for growing indoors.

Tulips and hyacinths planted in the next few weeks generally bloom in March and early April when the weather is more likely to be favorable. Remember that tulips and hyacinths, like most spring bulbs, look better when planted in masses or groups rather than single rows.

How long do hyacinths last indoors? ›

If you received a hyacinth that is blooming, then you might be wondering exactly how long the blooms are supposed to last. What is this? A healthy hyacinth is going to go through a period of blooming that will last for between eight and twelve weeks.

Like narcissus, hyacinths can be grown indoors in a soil mix, or simply in a vase of water. To plant in soil, prepare, plant, and care for them as described above, but use smaller containers suitable for indoor spots like windowsills. If your indoor containers lack drainage holes, layer the bottom with bulb fiber.

When to plant hyacinths. Plant bulbs outdoors in borders and containers in early autumn for flowering in March and April. Prepared bulbs should be planted in September if you want blooms for Christmas flowering, as they require 10-12 weeks for good root and shoot development.

Should you soak spring bulbs before planting? There's no need to soak them before planting. However, if you are late getting them into the ground, then soaking them for 12-24 hours can speed up the rooting process.

A: The word "normal" seems so empty but it is accurate in describing what is happening with reader Masck's bulbs. Simply, tulips and hyacinths are at their best the first spring after flowering and Kaufmanniana tulips do multiply and come back better each year.

You may keep the bulbs in pots after flowering, but it is a good idea to introduce some new soil with all its nutrients and fertilize again. You may also remove the bulbs, let them air dry, and put them in a paper bag in a location with the proper chilling requirements until you are ready to force them again.

Hyacinths are not typically grown as a perennial houseplant, but they are easy to grow indoors provided you can tolerate their intense fragrance, which some people find overpowering. After flowering, the foliage is nondescript, and most gardeners treat hyacinths as seasonal annuals.

"Check the ground by sticking your finger in, then water the hyacinths only when the soil is totally dry," Brandt says. "Usually, this is once or twice a week, depending on your climate." Moreover, make sure you let the ground dry between each watering.

To prevent hyacinths from flopping, push a thin bamboo stake into the soil right next to the flowering stem. Insert it only a few inches so that you don't pierce the bulb. Tie the stake to the stem just below the flower.

Although these plants are intended for growing indoors, they will grow perfectly well outside, flowering in March and early April and cheerfully reappearing year after year.

Can hyacinths grow without soil? ›

You can also grow hyacinths bulbs in glass jars or vase, without any compost. Use only heat-treated bulbs for this. Simply fill each hyacinth glass with water to just below where the bulb's base will sit, then put the bulb in place. Make sure it doesn't touch the water, but sits just above it.

Hyacinths prefer loamy, well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Hyacinths like fertile soil, so if you have low-nutrient soil then you'll need to amend it with a few inches of mature compost. Before planting, loosen the first 12 inches of soil to make room for the bulbs.

Light: Most bulbs flower best in full sun (6 hours or more of direct sunlight per day) but tolerate light shade. They can thrive under deciduous trees, provided root competition is not too severe and the bulbs receive at least a half-day (3–4 hours) of sunlight after the trees leaf out.

Planting bulbs too deep can result in bulb rot and a bit of a delay in spring growth. In general, plant bulbs a depth 2-3 times their vertical diameter. In heavy clay soils keep bulbs within the top six inches of the soil. This helps avoid rot caused by poor soil drainage.

Symbolism. The hyacinth is the flower of the sun god Apollo and is a symbol of peace, commitment and beauty, but also of power and pride. The hyacinth is often found in Christian churches as a symbol of happiness and love.

According to a different myth, it was Zephyrus who caused the death of the young man; jealous of his affair with Apollo he blew the discus to Hyacinthus' head, killing him. Apollo, distraught at the youth's death, forbade Hades to claim his soul; instead, he turned him into the flower of the same name.

The Ancient Greeks regarded it as a flower of death and in many European cultures it was associated with remembrance. This is a reflection of its connection with the myth of Hyakinthos, who through an act of the gods was killed by his friend Apollo whilst throwing a discus.

MEANING: This name derives from the Ancient Greek “huákinthos (ᾰ́κινθος) yákinthos ‎(υάκινθος)”, meaning “Hyacinth, reddish-blue or deep purple color”. Jacinth is the name of a flower and precious stone of this color. The Hebrew word used for Jacinth in the Bible is “leshem”.

Makes Skin Healthy:

Many skin care products contain hyacinth. The use of Hyacinth and its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial properties make it the perfect choice for treating many skin disorders.

Hyacinth bean is a climbing plant that produces seeds (beans). The seeds, pods, leaves, flowers, and roots are eaten. The seeds are used as medicine. People take hyacinth beans by mouth to prevent pregnancy and for diarrhea and stomach disorders.

Do hyacinths smell good? ›

Blooming in dense clusters, Hyacinth flowers have a highly fragrant smell that's sweet, robust, and earthy. Coming in a range of colors from purple, pink, lavender, and white, they are a favorite of florists and gardeners alike. The Hyacinth's scent develops as it blossoms becoming more potent and intoxicating.

According to the usual version, his great beauty attracted the love of Apollo, who killed him accidentally while teaching him to throw the discus; others related that Zephyrus (or Boreas) out of jealousy deflected the discus so that it hit Hyacinthus on the head and killed him.

The sharp, gold-tipped arrow pierced the heart of Apollo inflaming his love for Daphne, a beautiful nymph, daughter of the river god Peneus, while the blunt, lead-tipped arrow struck the nymph creating an intense aversion for love in the her heart.

Hyacinthus chose Apollo over the others. He visited all of Apollo's sacred lands with the god in a chariot drawn by swans. So fiercely was Apollo in love with Hyacinthus that he abandoned his sanctuary in Delphi to enjoy Hyacinthus' company by the river Eurotas.

KHLORIS (Chloris) was the goddess of flowers and a nymph of the Islands of the Blessed. She was the wife of Zephyros the West-Wind and the mother of Karpos (Carpus), god of fruit. Her Roman name was Flora.

Hyacinthus wanted to impress Apollo, and chased after the discus. Zephyrus chose this moment to make his move, and blew the discus at Hyacinthus's head, killing him. Apollo was devastated, and refused to let Hades take Hyacinthus' soul to the underworld. Instead he transformed Hyacinthus into the Hyacinth flower.

Zeus, king of all gods, jumped in at the nick of time and saved the day, feeling compassion for Paeon, who had intended no wrong, he saved him by turning him into a beautiful flower, the peony. The second myth associates the name peony to an alluring nymph named Paeonia, whose beauty caused Apollo to swoon at her feet.

Anemone (Lily of the Field) - anemone coronaria

These are wild field flowers in Palestine and almost certainly the wild anemones that were referred to by Jesus as the lilies of the field in His sermon on the mount, as they still grow wild near the Lake of Galilee.

hyacinth, also spelled Jacinth, a red, orange, or yellow variety of the gemstone zircon (q.v.).

Hyacinthus orientalis - common, Dutch or garden hyacinth. Hyacinthus transcaspicus.