Hyacinth / Hyacinthus

Hyacinth Description

Hyacinths have a lot going for them as a garden flower. They are neat, have a long flowering season, come in a variety of colours and shades, and they have a strong sweet fragrance. They make ideal flowers for containers or window boxes.

Despite this they have never been as popular as daffodils or tulips and the main reasons seem to be the cost of the bulbs and, perhaps, that aside from colour there is little difference amongst the varieties of Hyacinthus.

Cultivation of Hyacinth Plants

Hyacinth bulbs should be planted between 8 and 15cms apart from each other. They should be planted to a depth of about 12-15cm in the soil.

The bulbs should be planted in a sunny position and in any soil that has good drainage. The withered flower spikes should be deadheaded however the foliage should be allowed to die away naturally

Bulbs that are left in the ground through the winter will not perform as well in the next season. It is best to lift them and overwinter them in dry frost-free conditions.

Propagation of hyacinths by division is not usually successful.

Popular Varieties of Hyacinth

The following lists some popular varieties of Hyacinth.

Hyacinth Pests and Diseases

Hyacinthus can be affected by grey bulb rot if the bulbs are planted too early and in warm soil.