Hyacinthus orientalis (
common hyacinth,
garden hyacinth or
Dutch hyacinth), is a
herbaceous perennial flowering plant,
native to southwestern Asia, southern and central Turkey, northwestern Syria, Lebanon and northern Israel. It was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. It is widely cultivated everywhere in the
temperate world for its strongly fragrant flowers which appear exceptionally early in the season, and frequently forced to flower at Christmas time.