Striking hyacinth flowers are loved in gardens and floral arrangements alike. Vibrant in colour and intoxicating in fragrance, these stunning blooms have a rich history and symbolism.
Here, we’re sharing seven interesting facts about hyacinths that you may not know about, from where the beautiful bloom got its name to the inside scoop on the hyacinth festival.
Hyacinth get their name from a Greek myth
Like with many flowers, hyacinths have got their name from a beautiful yet tragic Greek myth. While there are variations in the tale, the story goes: handsome Hyacinthus was loved by both the god Apollo and the West Wind Zephyrus. When Zephyrus got jealous of Apollo, she blew a discus the pair were playing with off course and ultimately ended up striking Hyacinthus in the head. Devastated by the loss, Apollo turned the blood of Hyacinthus into a flower which he named hyacinth.
You’ll find them in so many colours
Hyacinth also comes in a variety of colours, each with its own symbolic meaning. Pink hyacinths are linked to sentiments of romance and affection, while white are seen as a symbol of purity and innocence, red are associated with romance and purple with royalty and elegance. You’ll also find hyacinths in blue, which is very rare in the flowering world, as a symbol of sincerity and loyalty.
They are rich in symbolism
In the Victorian language of flowers, the hyacinth flower was a symbol of sport and play due to its association with the discus throw in the Greek myth of Hyacinthus, Apollo and Zephyrus. For this reason, they can also be seen as a symbol of jealousy reflecting Zephyrus’ envy of the attention Apollo received from Hyacinthus.
Hyacinths are used in perfumery
Thanks to the fresh sweet scent, with a hint of earthiness, hyacinths have become popular in the fragrance industry and are often found in perfumes. However, you’ll find that most modern perfumeries use synthetic hyacinths fragrances as the natural essential oil is difficult to extract from the flower in the quantities needed.
Hyacinths are toxic
While hyacinth’s sweet fragrance is tempting, these beautiful flowers are actually toxic. They contain oxalic acid which is toxic if ingested and can also irritate skin so make sure to wear gloves when planting or arranging your bouquet.
They attract pollinators
Hyacinth’s striking appearance, vibrant colours and divine fragrance are not only attractive to us humans, they also lure in various pollinators, especially bees and butterflies. Hyacinths are mostly self-pollinating, so they don’t need to attract them, but they can certainly support the pollinators which helps to boost biodiversity in the garden.
There’s a hyacinth festival
Taking place in Turkey every year, the Hyacinths Festival is a celebration of the beautiful flowers when they are in full bloom during spring. The event attracts tourists from around the world, who admire colourful flower displays and exhibitions, enjoy workshops and performances, and visit local markets.
