Hyacinths: Plants, Species & Flowering Time

Hyacinths are splendid early bloomers that can also be driven indoors. Find out everything about hyacinth species, reproduction and planting here.

Hyacinths are among the classic spring flowers and ring in the end of winter with their magnificently colored, large inflorescences and strong scent. We will introduce you to the onion plant and give you tips on choosing a variety and planting it.

Hyacinth: flowering time, appearance and meaning

Hyacinths (Hyacinthus) belong to the family of asparagus plants (Asparagaceae). In Greek mythology, the grieving sun god Apollo created the fragrant flowering plant from the blood of Hyakinthos, who was accidentally killed by his discus. All types of hyacinths come from the Orient and are wild in Turkey, Iran and as far as Israel.

In spring, the hardy onion plants sprout lanceolate, elongated, dark green leaves and a single flower stalk, which is covered with numerous individual flowers. The flowers do not have a calyx, they are composed of six colored petals. Hyacinths come in all shades of pink, red and yellow to deep blue and purple tones. the Early bloomer give off a strongly perfumed, sweet scent during the flowering period between March and May, which attracts numerous bees and other insects. After flowering, numerous round seeds form in capsule fruits, which open to maturity. In summer, the hyacinth plant retreats into its bulb and persists in the ground until the next spring.
In the language of flowers, hyacinths represent sincerity, love, beauty and happiness, which is why they are often given away.

The colorful variety of hyacinth species and varieties

The genus Hyacinthus includes three species, with only the garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) has been cultivated and cultivated. The wild hyacinth Hyacinthus transcaspicus is rarely found in rarity nurseries. In the following, we will introduce you to the most beautiful varieties of garden hyacinths.

• ‘Blue Pearl’: Deep purple blooming hyacinths with light accents. A rather small-growing variety with a height of 25 cm.
• "Blue Star": Monochrome, blue hyacinth with a height of up to 25 cm. The variety is very suitable for indoor forcing.
• ‘Jan Bos’: Bright pink hyacinth with light red markings on the petals. It reaches a height of 20 to 40 cm.

• ‘Midnight Mystic’: Almost black hyacinth with dark flower stalks and dark green foliage. It stays low and becomes about 20 cm high. The extremely dark color is only achieved outdoors in direct sunlight.
• ‘Odysseus’: Attractive, orange-yellow flamed hyacinth with a height of up to 40 cm. The fragrant flowers attract numerous insects between April and May.
• ‘Pink Pearl’: Pink hyacinth variety with a height of up to 25 cm. The large, fragrant flowers are easy to grow around the house.
• "Royal Navy": Rare, double, dark blue-violet hyacinth variety with a height of about 20 cm and a pleasant fragrance.

• ‘White Pearl’: White hyacinth variety with low stature. The small hyacinth becomes 15 to 25 cm high. It is suitable for cutting and gives off a perfumed scent.
• ‘Woodstock’: Hyacinth with deep red flower color. The variety originated in 1922 and reaches a height of 20 to 30 cm. The red hyacinth is well suited for planting in pots and balcony boxes.
• "Yellow Queen": Light, yellow hyacinth with a height of up to 40 cm. The plants are covered with numerous flowers and bloom between April and May.

Planting hyacinths: bulbs, location and Co.

Hyacinths are easy to care for early bloomers that can be placed in beds or planters. Whether in a pot or in the garden, the ideal location for hyacinths is sunny to partially shaded on nutrient-rich, humus-rich and loose soils.

Plant hyacinths in a pot

Hyacinths are ideal for planting in pots and window boxes. They are hardy down to -15 ° C and can therefore spend the winter outdoors with little protection, such as an insulating layer made of jute or fleece. The planter should have good water drainage to avoid waterlogging. A drainage layer made of sand, gravel or expanded clay at the bottom of the planter prevents the roots and bulbs from getting wet and rotten. In order to keep hyacinths in a pot for a long time, it is important to ensure a planting distance of at least 10 cm. A high quality potting soil like ours Plantura organic potting soil, has a loose structure and at the same time stores sufficient moisture for the bulbs of the early bloomers. In the spring, plant the onions so deeply in the potting soil that the onion is completely covered. Water properly and put the planter outdoors.

If you want to keep your hyacinth as a potted plant in the apartment all year round, it must be kept in a cool and dark place for flowering to simulate winter. First place the hyacinth only superficially in a pot with soil, the majority of the onion protrudes. Pour in vigorously and then place the pot in a cool and dark place. After about eight weeks it will be apparent that the hyacinth is producing a flower stalk. Now bring the pot with the hyacinth back into the house and let it stand light and cool for a few more days. Then it can be put in a warm room.

Planting hyacinths in the garden

The best time to plant hyacinths outdoors is in autumn or early spring. They are preferably planted in small groups of three to five plants. The planting distance for free-standing hyacinth bulbs in the garden is around 15 to 20 cm. First loosen the soil and work some compost or mostly organic long-term fertilizer - like ours Plantura organic flower fertilizer - in order to secure the nutrient supply in the long term. Soils that are too heavy can be improved with sand or bentonite. The planting depth for hyacinth bulbs is about 10 to 15 cm. First, a deep hole is dug with a hand shovel. Put the hyacinth bulbs in with the shoot up and fill the planting hole with soil. If you water once, the soil washes directly to the roots, which promotes growth.

Prefer hyacinth in a jar: this is how it works

As a living decoration, hyacinths can also be cultivated for a short time in an elegant glass with water. Here, too, the bulbs have to be stored cold for a few weeks for flowering. Make sure that only the roots - but not the bulb itself - come into contact with the water. There is a special hyacinth glass for this, but basically other, similarly shaped glasses are also suitable. The water should be renewed every few days. After flowering, the onions are best placed in a container with soil or in a bed so that the plant has access to nutrients.

Note: There are always wax hyacinths on offer in stores. The onion is completely covered with colored wax. For some time, the hyacinth survives without water and nutrients and even blooms because it can fall back on the reserves in the bulb. In the long run, however, the airtight and watertight wax does not allow the onion to breathe or take root. The hyacinth does not survive long and can therefore not be planted.

Propagation of bulb flowers

In order to propagate hyacinths, the easiest way to do this is to separate the often numerous, true-to-variety bulbs from the mother plant and transplant them. However, the young hyacinth bulbs need a longer cold period to sprout in the next year. Detach the bulbs in autumn and store them in a cool place over winter. Hit the roots in damp sand to avoid drying out completely. The onion itself should stay dry. In early spring, plant the bulbs in a suitable location or put them in a pot.

Are hyacinths poisonous?

The hyacinth plant is slightly poisonous in all parts and, if consumed in excess, can lead to vomiting, nausea and other gastrointestinal complaints. As a precaution, hyacinths should therefore be kept out of the reach of pets and children. Hyacinths can also cause skin irritation in sensitive people when touched. It is therefore advisable to always wear gloves when potting and handling.

The undemanding early bloomers require little attention, but there are a few points to consider in order to obtain long-lived, blooming plants. We'll show you what the Hyacinth care is to be observed.