ORIENTAL HYACINTH
(Hyacinth orientalis)
Spring bulbous plant
Hyacinth means “flower of rain” in Greek. There is a well-known legend about a young man full of perfection – Hyacinth, the favorite of the god Apollo. During a sports competition, the young man was hit by a throwing disc, and the patron of the arts perpetuated his memory by creating a fragrant flower.
It grows wildly in the Eastern Mediterranean and Central Asia, where it blooms in the earliest spring, being one of the primroses. Gained fame among poets and connoisseurs of floral scents.
In the 16th century, it became especially popular in Western European countries; since then, thousands of plant varieties have been bred.