Hyacinths were among the best-known and most popular spring bloomers in the home and garden. The perennial plants require little care and are absolutely hardy. Interesting facts about the colorful onion plant with its incomparable scent of spring.
What is the hyacinth in brief?
The hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) is a hardy, perennial spring bloomer from the asparagus family. It reaches a height of 15-30 cm, blooms from March to May and has over 100 varieties with flower colors ranging from white to black.
What you should know about the hyacinth
- Botanical name: Hyacinthus orientalis subsp. orientalis
- Family: Asparagus family
- Origin: Central Asia, Balkans
- Variety: over 100 varieties
- Flower shape: up to 40 small six-petaled bell-shaped flowers as a cluster on one stem
- Flower colors: white, pink, yellow, orange, salmon, red, violet, light and dark blue, black
- Leaves: shiny green leaves, long, tapering
- Root shape: flower bulb
- Height: 15 to 30 centimeters
- Flowering time: March to May
- Location: sunny garden spot, bright flower window
- Propagation: via bulbs or seeds
- Winter hardy: absolutely frost hardy
- Perennial: Hyacinths grow in the garden for up to 15 years
- Toxins: saponins, calcium oxalate, salicylic acid
- Special features: strongly scented spring bloomer
Cultivate hyacinth in the garden or in the house
The hyacinth thrives in the garden for several years, even without much care. In a favorable location, it forms breeding bulbs and provides flowers in spring.
Overwintering hyacinths indoors is not easy. The flower is therefore usually only kept for one season and then disposed of. An alternative is to plant them outdoors after flowering.
If the hyacinth is to be kept indoors over the winter, the bulb needs a cold phase, otherwise it will not bloom.
Hyacinths as cut flowers
The hyacinth is also very popular as a cut flower for spring flowers. It is cut when the lower flowers have opened but the upper ones are still closed.
Before putting them in the vase, the stems must be cut straight with a knife. To ensure that the hyacinth lasts longer as a cut flower, the vase should be kept cool.
Hyacinths look beautiful in the vase with other spring bloomers such as crocuses and daffodils.
Growing hyacinths in a glass
Hyacinths can be grown very decoratively indoors in special hyacinth jars. After flowering they can be planted out in the garden.
Tips & Tricks
Pearl hyacinths or grape hyacinths (Muscari) are also popular spring bloomers from the asparagus family. The very small plants are distantly related to the actual hyacinth.
