Roses are Red, Violets are Blue, Hyacinths are...?

Years ago when I was living in Washington DC, I recall being quite enchanted by a black tulip. Now Midnight Mystique has been cultivated for our delectation. Biologically, I think flowers tend to have bright colours to attract insects to pollinate them. Black, the absence of colour, is thus an anomaly. However, this hyacinth is reported to have a very strong scent - indeed most hyacinth have a lovely fragrance... until they are past their sell-by date - which may compensate for the colour in order to attract insects.

This hybird has taken 16 years to cultivate and is reportedly taking the gardening world by storm. I expect it'll be much talked about at Chelsea in May - one of my favourite events on the British calendar!

I am not sure why, maybe it is the sheer rarity of the colour, but there is something breath-taking about black flowers. Imagine a display of black and white flowers - How chic! How elegant! And O! How Dominican! Of course they may also become the flower of choice for the next Goth wedding... oh dear!