Small curly flowers in cheerful spring colours, which also smell fantastic: we are talking about the hyacinth. Get to know this optimistic flower.
Caring for the hyacinth
A couple of simple tips which will create a big effect:
- Hyacinths are best placed in a cool as possible position. If they are placed in a warm room or in the sun they will finish flowering more quickly.
- Don’t place your flowers near the fruit bowl. Fruit naturally releases ethylene gas and this will age the flowers more quickly.
- Place the flowers in a clean vase with tap water. Refill the water regularly and change the water every 3 days. Also add some cut flower food.
- This way your hyacinths should stay fresh for 5 to 12 days.
Colours and shapes
If you can smell hyacinths, you know it is spring. Their perfume and fresh colours will drive winter out of your home. The hyacinth is waiting for you at the florist in white, red, yellow, pink, purple, orange, green or multi-coloured.
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.
Origin
The hyacinth came around 1560 from Turkey, Syria and the Lebanon to Europe, but it was a couple of centuries before everyone could enjoy them. Around the 17th and 18th centuries hyacinths were so exclusive that only a couple of rich plant lovers had them in their greenhouses. That is thankfully a lot different nowadays.
