Hyacinths are native to Turkey, Syria and Lebanon. Introduced to Europe in the 16th century, hyacinth became so popular that the Dutch — those lovers of bulb flowers — had bred more than 2,000 cultivars by the 18th century.

Hyacinths are perennials, so you can plant them once and they'll come back every spring. Hyacinths are easier to grow than other spring bulbs, and they can be forced indoors in pots or a bulb vase. Most hyacinths need a chill to bloom, so they do best in areas where winter temperatures are consistently in the 30s. If you live in an area with warmer winters, buy pre-chilled bulbs and treat them as annuals.