The wild Hyacinth is a native of Turkey and the Middle East, along the eastern shores of the
Mediterranean. Hyacinths were grown in Europe in the time of the Greeks and Romans. Both Homer and
Virgil noted its sweet fragrance. After this, the Hyacinth faded from history and did not reappear
until the 16th century when it was reintroduced into Western Europe from Turkey and Iran. Leonhardt
Rauwolf, (a German doctor) collected some Hyacinths when he visited Turkey in 1573. Hyacinths have been
cultivated commercially since the second half of the 16th century. They became very popular in 18th and
early 19th century Europe. The bulbs are now grown commercially in the Netherlands and the United
Kingdom. In the Netherlands Hyacinths are also grown as cut flowers. ~ The Flower Expert
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