Hyacinthus orientalis
Details
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Tried and True Recommended by 3 Professionals
Common Name: common hyacinth
Type: Bulb
Family: Hyacinthaceae
Zone: 4 to 8
Native Range: Central and southern Turkey, northwestern Syria, Lebanon
Height: 0.5 to 1 feet
Spread: 0.25 to 0.5 feet
Bloom Time: April
Bloom Description: Blue, purple, pink, red, and white
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers, Fragrant Flowers
Tolerates: Black Walnuts, Rabbits

Culture

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Prefers organically rich soils. Tolerates some light shade. Plant bulbs 4-5” deep and 4-5” apart in mid fall. Soils should be kept moist immediately after planting to encourage root growth. Also keep soils moist during the spring growing season, but taper off moisture after bloom as bulbs head toward dormancy. Promptly remove spent flower spikes so plants do not need to expend energy on seed production. Bulbs are commonly grown in containers, especially when forced for indoor winter bloom.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Hyacinth, Dutch hyacinth or garden hyacinth is a spring flowering bulb that produces spikes of flowers noted for their intense, often overpowering, fragrance. Typically grows 6-10” tall. Each bulb sends up 3-4 strap-shaped green leaves in early spring and a stiff densely flowered spike of extremely fragrant tubular flowers. A very large number of hybrid cultivars are available in commerce under this species name in flower colors including various shades of blue, purple, pink, red and white. NOTE: Images displayed on this page are of hybrid cultivars not the species.

Problems

No serious insect or disease problems. Flowering often decreases in quality after the first year, and bulbs may need to be replaced every couple of years.

Garden Uses

Group or mass in beds, borders, rock gardens, along walks. Effectively mixes with other spring flowering bulbs. Containers. Force bulbs for indoor winter flowers.

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