|
|
Article: BLACK BEAUTY; For years, gardeners have been obsessed with creating a pitch-black bloom. Does this hyacinth, on show this week at Chelsea, prove the quest is over?
- Article from:
- Daily Mail (London)
- Article date:
- May 24, 2005
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Solo Syndication Limited. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Byline: MICHAEL HANLON
WHEN it comes to flowers, black is the new, well, everything.
Tired of the usual hues - the scarlets and violets, the whole glittering, rainbow array of the horticulturalist's palette - true connoisseurs are now looking to little black numbers to get their floral kicks.
Pure black flowers have been something of a Holy Grail for horticulturalists ever since the first almost-black varieties were produced by breeders in the early 20th century.
In the wild, a black flower is not much use. Flowers are there to attract insects which, like us, appreciate a dash of colour to brighten their lives.
And black ...