Hyacinthus orientalis - Hyacinth - Delft Blue

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Common Name(s): Hyacinths

Native to: Eastern Mediterranean region

Flowering: Late Winter to Early Spring

Watering: Water in, but do not keep on watering unless winters are very dry

Planting Aspect: Full Sun, Part Shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate, Grassland

Description

Hyacinths are not only popular with gardeners all over the world due to their brilliant and satisfying show of colours, but also their very sweet and pervasively intrusive spring perfume. They produce glossy, narrow, strap like, green leaves which appear just as the short flower spike emerges crammed with tubular or strongly reflexed blooms. The flower spike then extends above the leaves and the blooms open up and out in early to mid spring. They can be grown in pots and terrace planters and are ideal as cut flowers for vases and arrangements where their fragrance can bring the breath of spring indoors.

Hyacinths do best in regions with a decidedly chill winter and may dwindle where they do not experience this; however they can be grown in warm regions as bedding plants for one season and then discarded to be replaced with fresh stock. Hyacinths can also be grown without soil, with the roots in water alone, in vases specifically designed for this purpose.

Cultivation

Choose a well drained sunny spot and prepare the soil by digging in rotted compost or old manure. Plant bulbs about 15cm apart and 10cm deep in either the garden or containers in autumn in cooler areas, or up to 20cm deep at the start of winter in warmer climates. They can be grown in the hotter northern regions, but planting should be held off until mid winter when the soil temperature has fallen considerably. Water in, but do not keep on watering unless winters are very dry. They do best in full sun (in cooler winter climates) and some shade in warmer areas to keep the bulbs cool. Frost hardiness of these bulbs varies, but all will tolerate at least light frosts.

Apply a single application of a low nitrogen based fertililiser in early spring as new growth is made. Keep in mind that over watering and the use of high nitrogen fertilizers and manures will contribute to bulb rotting problems from various soil borne bacterial diseases. Protect them from aphids. After flowering, the bulbs can be left where they are, but the following year’s flowers are usually fewer and not so crowded on the spikes.