What spring flower was once used as a depilatory?

By Chelsie Vandaveer

April 22, 2002

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Gipsy Hyacinth Mixture, English Wood Hyacinth, Giant Hyacinth Collection—>Click here.

Gerard's Herbal (1633 ed.) dedicated four chapters to plants he variously called Iacinth, Jacinth, or Hyacinth, but labeling all under a generic name of Hyacinthus. These plants now are known under three genera--Hyacinthella, Hyacinthoides, and Hyacinthus. Gerard's Hyacinthus orientalis kept its botanical name and is the cloyingly fragrant garden hyacinth.

Giant Hyacinth Mixture There's a unique opportunity to spread a ''coat of many colours'' over your garden next spring with this colour-balanced mixture of lovely Dutch hyacinths direct from Holland's finest growing fields. They're fully guaranteed to produce large stems bedecked with fragrant florets. Zones 4-8. Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs

The Herbal recommended, "The Root of Hyacinth boyled in Wine and drunke, stoppeth the belly (antidiarrheal), provoketh urine (diuretic), and helpeth against the venomous bitings of the field Spider...The roots, after the opinion of Dioscorides, being beaten and applied with white Wine, hinder or keepe backe the growth of haires (depilatory)."

Hyacinths are considered mildly poisonous. The plants have quite the opposite action as reported by Gerard. When eaten, the bulbs cause violent stomach upset and diarrhea. Lewis and Elvin-Lewis (Medical Botany, 1977) report "severe purgation in cattle" that have fed upon the plants. There are few verifiable reports of human poisonings.

The bulbs also cause localized dermatitis (skin wheals) probably because of the oxalate crystals present. Workers handling hyacinth bulbs can get a condition known as "bulb fingers" where the fingers swell and touch becomes excruciating. One can only presume that undergoing a painful application of hyacinth root to remove hair, Dioscorides meant for the white wine to be taken separately and internally.

Amikam Shoob of Tel-Aviv University has posted a photograph of the wild type Hyacinthus orientalis from which the modern garden cultivars were developed. To view the photograph, click on the link:

http://www.tau.ac.il/~ibs/album/hyacinthus.o.htm

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Brecks Dutch Treat Collection

Breck's Bulbs®

The ideal starter collection for your garden - or a friend's. Eight outstanding varieties of fresh, prime-quality Dutch bulbs rushed across the Atlantic to America and fully guaranteed to grow and bloom.

This spectacular 100-bulb assortment demonstrates to beginners, as well as to expert gardeners, how lovely your surroundings can be with a multitude of bright flowers from the fields of Holland.

Exciting blooms start peeking through in early spring and keep coming until summer is in sight. Shipped in a distinctive gift box with complete planting instructions.

In this collection you will receive:

10 King Edward Tulips
8 Daffodils for Naturalizing
20 Alpine Rosy Bells
12 Beauty Dutch Iris Mixture
Blue Grape Hyacinths
Early Stardrift
Economy Tulip Mix
Mixed Giant Crocus

One collection equals 100 bulbs!

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Grape Hyacinth Mixture

Breck's Bulbs®

What could be more heavenly beneath the spring sky than these lovely little grape hyacinths in a sweeping variety of blue shades?

Mixture includes blooms of pale blue, cobalt blue and bicoloured blackish violet with violet-blue upper bells. Puffy clusters of cloud-white blooms, too!

Interplant them with other spring bulbs, or plant in drifts for a shimmering, pondlike effect.

Muscari Zones 3-8. 6+ cm bulbs. Height: 6 - 8" Blooms: Mid-Spring

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More Hyacinths Gardening How-To – Tips & Growing Instructions: Hyacinths

Festival Hyacinth Collection

Breck's Bulbs®

A whole bouquet from one bulb! Unlike traditional hyacinths, Festival Hyacinths produce numerous stems from each bulb. The 5" flower heads are looser and more graceful than those of traditional hyacinths, yet they emit the same divine fragrance.

In this collection you will receive:

3 Pink
3 Blue
3 White

Zones: 4 - 8. Height: 6''

Bloom Time: Early to Mid-Spring

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More Hyacinths Gardening How-To – Tips & Growing Instructions: Hyacinths

English Bluebells

Breck's Bulbs®

Originally from southern England, these old-fashioned violet-blue beauties are incredible naturalizers that last up to 4 weeks in the garden and multiply impressively each year. Strong stems with masses of dainty blue blooms are great for borders, beds, rock gardens and ground covers. Hyacinthoides 'non-scripta' Zones 5-8. 7-8 cm bulbs.

Height: 10-14" Blooms: Late spring

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Gipsy Hyacinth Mixture

Breck's Bulbs®

Bring a popular designer look to your garden as Gipsy Queen’s apricot-salmon flowers partner with the primrose yellow blossoms of Gipsy Princess.

Combine this unique mixture into a stylish bouquet and prepare to be overwhelmed by compliments. Bulb size 15-16cm, deer resistant.

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More Hyacinths Gardening How-To – Tips & Growing Instructions: Hyacinths

English Wood Hyacinth Mixture

Breck's Bulbs®

Capture the beauty and charm of Holland in your late-spring with these lovely pastel bells. Deluxe blues, whites and pinks rise from low-growing fountains of rich green foliage. Easy to plant. Increase annually. Hyacinthoides hispanica Zones 3-9. 8-10 cm bulbs.

Height: 8-10" Blooms: Late Spring

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More Hyacinths Gardening How-To – Tips & Growing Instructions: Hyacinths

Giant Hyacinth Collection

Breck's Bulbs®

Specially selected 15-16 cm bulbs from Holland’s leading growers produce large, uniform 8-10" stems lavishly covered with fragrant, bell-like florets in early to mid spring.

Collection features all four colour-coordinated shades:

• 5 Red Rocket
• 5 Carnegie
• 5 Fondant
• 5 Blue Jacket

Zones: 4-8
Height: 8-10"

Bulb Size: 15-16 cm
Jumbo Size: 19+ cm

Bloom Time: Early to Mid Spring

This Item Ships In The Fall. Click here - Free $25 off any order of $50 or more at Brecks Bulbs

More Hyacinths Gardening How-To – Tips & Growing Instructions: Hyacinths