How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Hyacinth

One of the most powerful garden scents of spring comes from hyacinth flowers (Hyacinthus orientalis) in bloom. Even at a distance, you'll notice these flowers' intense fragrance and the spikes of bright tubular flowers emerging from strap-shaped leaves.Introduced to Europe during the 16th century, hyacinth's popularity sparked Dutch bulb growers to breed more than 2,000 cultivars by the 18th century, and today there are about 60 to choose from in commercial cultivation.

Modern hyacinths are some of the easiest-to-grow perennial spring bulbs. Hyacinths will return every year, though their flowers will diminish in vigor after a few seasons. They are best planted in the fall and have a moderate growth rate. Hyacinths can grow outdoors in the ground or pots, as well as indoors in a bulb vase filled with water. Keep them out of the reach of kids and critters as the bulbs are toxic to humans and pets.

Hyacinth Meaning

When people use the common name "hyacinth," they're often referring to both the Hyacinthus genus and the Muscari genus, which includes the grape hyacinth. While they're not directly related, the plants have similar care needs and appearances—hence the shared common name.

Hyacinth Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing hyacinth:

• Plant in a slightly acidic to neutral soil in full sun to partial shade.
• Water well after the bulbs are planted, but allow the ground to dry before the next watering.
• Bulbs can be fertilized upon planting.
• Grow hyacinth in large groups for the strongest and farthest-reaching scent.
  

Planting

Most varieties of hyacinth bulbs are fairly large. For spring garden blooms, plant hyacinth bulbs in the fall six to eight weeks before the first frost (between October and December). They should be placed root end down (widest side down) about 4 to 6 inches deep. Give them some room to spread out by spacing them about 3 to 6 inches apart. Cover with soil, and water well.

Light

Hyacinths like full sun to partial shade. Aim to give the plants at least six to eight hours of sunlight a day. As with all spring bulbs, hyacinths sprout, bloom, and start to fade before deciduous trees fully leaf out, so you don't have to worry about too much shade from nearby trees.

Soil

Hyacinth bulbs are not particular about soil pH, but they prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil. They also do best in soil that is loose and well-drained; they will not tolerate wet soils.Rich soil can lead to floppy stalks, so go easy on the organic matterwhen preparing or amending the soil.

Water

Water the ground wellafter you plant the bulbs. Always allow the ground to dry out between watering because if the bulbs sit in cool, wet soil, they will eventually rot. About 1/2 inch of water per week—combined irrigation and rainfall—will be sufficient for hyacinths, but this depends on how well the soil drains.

Water Check

Check if your hyacinth needs water by sticking your finger in the ground, and watering only when it's totally dry. This is usually once or twice a week, depending on your climate.

Temperature and Humidity

Hyacinths can be expected to survive the winter in USDA plant hardiness zones 4 to 8. They might need some winter protection in colder zones and some pre-chilling in warmer zones, depending on the variety. In zones where winter temperatures remain above 60°F, dig up the bulbs and chill them somewhere dark and cold for six to 10 weeks before replanting.

Fertilizer

The easiest way to feed new bulbs is to toss some bulb food into the hole at planting time. There are many fertilizers available for feeding bulbs—10-10-10 is recommended—or you can use an ordinarybone meal.

Feed the bulbs a mere handful at planting and again in the spring when the new growth first appears by scratching some bulb food into the nearby soil and watering well. For the amount to use, follow the product label instructions.

Types of Hyacinth

Modern hyacinths come in many colors. Some varieties include:

• 'Hollyhock': Offers striking reddish-pink double blooms
• 'Pink Pearl': Has fuchsia petals that are edged in pale pink
• 'Woodstock': Boasts deep plum petals
• 'Blue Jacket': Features a denser bloom structure and deep purple-blue flowers
• 'Top White': Offers bright white florets that are star-shaped
• 'City of Haarlem': This heirloom variety has been popular since the late 1800s and features yellow petals that mature to a pale yellow-creamy white.

How to Force Hyacinth Bulbs to Bloom

It’s possible to force hyacinth bulbs indoors into early blooming.

1. Plant bulb in potting mix. Plant a bulb in a container filled with well-draining potting mix, ensuring that the container also has drainage holes. The bulb tip should be just above the soil line.
2. Put container in the dark. Place the container in a dark spot that remains between 33°F and 45°F.
3. Wait at least 10 weeks. Allow it to sit there for at least 10 weeks as roots develop.Green shoots will also start to grow.
4. Increase light and heat. Once the shoots grow to around an inch, start to slowly increase light and warmth.
5. Keep soil moist. Water to keep the soil lightly moist but never waterlogged, and avoid hitting the shoots when watering.
6. Move to sunny window. Once the plant has buds, move it to a sunny window with bright, indirect light to wait for your flowers to open.

Pruning

Once the bulbs have finished blooming, cut off the flower stalks but allow the leaves to remain. This will encourage the plants to store energy in their bulbs for next season.

Pruning Tip

Looking for the best pruners for your hyacinths? We tested 8 top-rated pruners in our Lab to make sure your perennials stay happy and healthy.

Propagating Hyacinth

Like most perennial bulbs, hyacinths are best propagated by splitting offset bulbs from the parent plant in the fall. This method can take two or three years before the bulblet grows to a size sufficient to produce large, vibrant flowers. Thus, propagating hyacinths is an activity best practiced by serious enthusiasts.

Here's how to propagate hyacinths by splitting off the offset bulbs:

1. Dig up the hyacinth. After the flowers have faded but before the foliage has begun to turn brown (usually in late summer or fall), dig up a mature hyacinth with a trowel. Make sure to wear gloves when handling hyacinths, as the bulbs have toxins that can cause skin irritation.
2. Wash and separate. Wash off the soil, and separate the clump into individual bulbs—the parent bulb and bulblets.
3. Replant the bulbs immediately into well-draining soil. Mixing in sand or compost is a good idea if your soil is dense. A handful of bone meal or bulb fertilizer is also recommended at planting time.
   

How to Grow Hyacinth From Seed

While hyacinths can be propagated from seed, it can take several years to coax the seed into creating a bulb and to nurture the bulb into a sizable structure that will produce a flowering plant.

First, you’ll have to allow your hyacinth blooms to remain on the plant to form seed pods. These pods will ripen from green to tan as they form small black seeds inside. The pods will dry and split open; you can catch the seeds by putting a white sheet under the plant or wrapping pantyhose around the flowers themselves.

1. Separate seeds. Soak the seeds in warm water for one to two days.
2. Place the seeds in paper towels. Place them between two moist paper towels in a plastic bag, and put them in the refrigerator to sprout.
3. Transfer them. Once they’ve sprouted, slightly press them into a seed tray filled with moist seed-starting mix, and place them in a cold frame or greenhouse to continue growing.

How to Grow Hyacinth in Pots

When planting in pots, either plastic or clay will do as long as they have good drainage. The container should be roughly 6 inches deep. The width of the container depends on how many bulbs you are planting.

Hyacinth bulbs in pots can be spaced more closely than when planted in the ground because the bulbs won't need room to multiply. You can squeeze them in so they are almost touching, but leave room for some soil in between to hold water. (Repotting should not be necessary if you have properly spaced your bulbs.)

Ordinary commercial potting soil is fine for planting hyacinths in containers, though some people like to blend in a little sand with the potting mix. Keep the potting medium dampbut not soaking wet until the bulbs sprout. Then, water whenever the soil dries out. Once the bulbs have sprouted, move them to indirect sunlight. Cool temperatures will keep them in bloom longer.

Overwintering

In colder zones (USDA zones 2 and 3), applying a thick layer of mulch over the bulb bed can allow hyacinth bulbs to survive cold winters. You also can position the bulbs an inch or two deeper at the time of planting to help insulate them. In zones 4 to 8, no winter protection should be necessary. However, if your hyacinths are outdoors in containers, cover them or move them to a sheltered spot to prevent the containers from accumulating too much moisture and rotting the bulbs.

If you are growing hyacinths in zone 9 or above, where winter temperatures stay above 60°F, you will need to dig up your bulbs and chill them artificially before replanting. Store them in a mesh bag in a cool, dark spot that remains above freezing but below 45°F for 10 weeks minimum.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

All kinds of rodents will munch on hyacinth bulbs. You can give them some protection by throwing a handful of gravel into the planting hole, or you can try commercial rodent deterrents. An easier method is to interplant them with daffodils, which rodents tend to avoid.

Few plant diseases affect hyacinths, but the bulbs can rot when planted in dense soil that doesn't drain well.

How to Get Hyacinth to Bloom

Bloom Months

Hyacinth typically blooms in mid-spring, between March and April. Blooms can last for a few weeks, usually until the end of April and sometimes May.

What Do Hyacinth Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Hyacinth flowers have a sweet floral scent that can be powerful.

Hyacinth flowers feature long, bright green leaves and bell-shaped petals. The bright tubular flowers that come in many colors such as white, blue, purple, pink, and red. Hyacinth also mix well with otherspring-blooming bulbs, as they come in so many colors and sizes. Their spiky flower stalks make a nice counterpoint to cup-shapedtulipsand ruffleddaffodils.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Hyacinth bulbs are generally low-maintenance and bloom quite easily on their own in the spring. That being said, you can give yours a leg up by cutting down the flower stalk when this year's blooms fade. Then, when its leaves turn yellow, cut them away as well. Feed them once they bloom, and again in August, to give them a boost for the following spring.

Most gardeners find it necessary to replant hyacinths (or lift and divide them) every two or three years to keep them blooming robustly. Like many hybrid bulbs, hyacinths lose their vigor rather quickly.

Common Problems With Hyacinth

The hyacinth is a reliable plant that will give you several years of aromatic blooms, but occasionally there are unfortunate issues.

Spotted Foliage

If you've had a late frost after the foliage has appeared, hyacinth leaves can develop disfiguring spots. Sadly, there is not much you can do about it, but in some cases, it will not affect the flower stalks that later appear.

Broken, Streaked Petals

Broken and streaked petals can be caused by the mosaic virus, which also can cause mottled leaves. Infected plants will need to be dug up and thrown away. Sterilize any tools you use to do this; they, too, can spread the disease.

Small Flowers

It is normal for hyacinths to bloom less robustly with every subsequent season. You can prolong their lifespan by regular feeding. Propagating new plants by dividing mature hyacinths can keep you in blooming plants almost indefinitely. Taller varieties can tend to flop. You can stake them if you only have a few, or plant them closer together so that they support one another.

From: thespruce