In the language of flowers, Pink Hyacinth (as well as Red) means “Play.” Not Play like the theater but what children, dogs, and other life forms do for fun. It is not often used in bouquets since the flower has a short shelf life. It’s a light-hearted flower and a hallmark of spring.
No part of the flower is edible and the bulbs are extremely toxic, containing an alkaloid toxin. The plant is not used in herbalism although the scent can be used as part of aromatherapy if desired.
The Hyacinth got its name from the Greek Mythology figure Hyacinthus. He was a mortal and the lover of Apollo. Another god, Zephyr, fell in love with him and in the ensuing dick measuring contest Hyacinthus was killed by a discus. According to the legend, the flower that spouted from the spilled blood that now bears his name. It’s likely that the original flower is the alpine squill and the modern hyacinth was named after the myth. The two flowers are superficially similar and both flower from bulbs.
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