Hyacinthus is the member of the Liliaceae family. The name of hyacinthus originates from the Greek Hyakinthos that means handsome young man who in Greek mythology was loved by the sun god Apollo. The Greek myth tells that one day Apollo and Hyakinthos were exercising throwing the discus. On seeing them both the jealous god of the West Wind, who also fell in love with Hyakinthos, blew the discus back at him and it fatally wounded the young fellow. According to the myth from his bloods appeared a flower, which was named in honor of Hyakinthos by the god Apollo.
The flower was first imported into Western Europe in the 16th century and being first cultivated by Austrians in the 1500's. Between the 17th and 18th centuries hyacinths could be seen only in the collections of extremely wealthy flower collectors. Its bulbs were immensely high-priced due to uncommon odor. Today they are available almost for everyone being bred and grown in Holland and Great Britain. To keep the blooms last-longing the cut flowers are being sold with roots intact at the bottom.
Flowers are available from November till April in white, pink, peach and blue, dark wine purples, rosy reds, navy, egg-yolk yellows and soft oranges.
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