Lilac Flower History
The myth goes that Pan the god of fields and forests fell hard in love for the nymph Syringa.
Lilac Flower History. Lilac Facts The lilac is the official flower of a couples 8th wedding anniversary. Frightened of Pans affection Syringa escaped him by transforming into a fragrant bush that today we call lilac. It is known as the Hungarian lilac.
People emigrating from Europe brought the shrub to plant in their gardens in order to savor a piece of home. Lilacs History Is Rooted In Greek Mythology For the ancient Greeks lilacs were an integral part of the story of Pan the god of forests and fields. In Victorian times giving a lilac meant that that the giver is trying to remind the receiver of a first love.
Syringa vulgaris lilac or common lilac is a species of flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae native to the Balkan Peninsula where it grows on rocky hills. Lilac is a flowering plant in the olive family Oleaceae. Josikaea was named for Rosalia Baroness von Josika a botanist who had found this plant growing in Hungary and brought it to the attention of the scientific community.
Lilacs in History Just like many other flowers the origin story of the lilac being with ancient Greek mythology. In the United States historians think the first lilacs arrived during the Colonial period and were planted around 1750 at the Governor Wentworth Estate in New Hampshire. Syringa lilac is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering woody plants in the olive family Oleaceae native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere.
Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had an affinity for lilacs and grew them in their gardens. Hyacinthiflora other lilac species were being describedIn 1830 S. There are about 25 species of lilacs.
Pan the god of forests captivated by the beauty of Syringa chased her through the forest. This concept is slightly problematic as lilacs only bloom for a short period each year. Grown for its scented purple flowers in spring this large shrub or small tree is widely cultivated and has been naturalized in parts of Europe and North America.
It is not regarded as an aggressive species found in the wild in widely scattered sites usually in the vicinity of past or present human habitations. This makes lilacs a good gift for graduates. Controlled studies with French Lilac began in 1929 when Slotta and Tschesche discovered that it was lowering glucose levels in rabbits.
In the so called Victorian Age the lilac flower was typical for widows because it reminded them of their old loves. It was said that Pan was in love with a nymph named Syringa. The history of the lilac like so many other plants is transnational.
Vulgaris is actually from the Balkans. While plant hybridizers were producing cultivars of S. The lilac flower has many meanings but most are related to expressing love or affection.
European colonists first brought over their beloved lilac bushes to North America in the 1750s. Lilac flower meaning According to Greek mythology the history of lilac begins with a beautiful nymph named Syringa. Lilacs can also express confidence that the giver has for the receiver.
Live Free or Die indeed. The common species is vulgaris is in the olive family and is native to the Balkan Peninsula in Southeastern Europe. In 1950 additional studies revealed that French Lilac could help reduce blood pressure and heart rate in the same species.
Lilac or Syringa spp. Josikaea Hungarian Lilac. In this story the god of the forests and fields Pan fell in love with Syringa the nymph.
The location is now a state park. The common lilac Syringa vulgaris originated in Eastern Europe. The origins of this particular bit of folklore are murky but there is a theory that it may be due to the practice of using lilacs to mask the scent of death by placing them in a coffin.
For the Celtics the lilac flower was related to magic and it was appreciated because of its beautiful scent. Syringa did not return this affection and worked quite hard to avoid Pan. In the language of flowers purple lilacs are the symbol of first love.
Thomas Jefferson planted old-fashioned lilacs in the late 1700s. As you can see there were different meanings and symbolism of the lilac flower throughout the history. Regardless it does appear to be localized to certain areas of England.
Lilacs have one of the shortest bloom times and only flower for three weeks at the beginning of spring. Lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia and widely and commonly cultivated in temperate areas elsewhere. Lilacs are native to eastern Europe and temperate Asia and several are widely cultivated.
Martin Flashback EyeEm Getty Images. Lilacs are actually native to Eastern Europe and parts of Asia though the most common and popular form in North America the common lilac S. The lilac has a deep history that is as with many flowers rooted in Greek mythology.
Syringa was eventually forced to turn herself into a lilac shrub to protect and disguise herself from Pans advances.
