Hyacinthus

Hyacinth

They have strap-like deep green leaves and produce upright spikes of tightly placed small bell-shaped flowers in late winter or early spring. Plants with large, scented flower spikes are available in shades of blue, purple, pink, cerise and white. They can be brought indoors at flowering time, and are best replaced each season.

Uses

Alpine gardens, container plants, border plants, rockeries.

Culture

Once bulbs have flowered they may be planted in garden beds in spring and will continue to flower year after year. Remove foliage after it has died back. They require good drainage and a cool situation at first till roots develop. If there are insufficient roots, the flower will abort. They prefer a pH of 6.5 7.5. Too much nutrient will burn plants. Plant at 10-15cm apart with tips 7.5 10cm below the soil.  Lift after flowering, dust with fungicide and store dry. In warmer climates the bulbs will deteriorate over a few seasons and for this reason they are best grown in cooler areas. 

Propagation

They are usually raised from seeds. Seedlings should be left undisturbed for the first year before planting out. They flower after 2-3 years. Larger ones take longer to flower. Named varieties must be raised from bulbils.

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