Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are easy-to-grow spring bulbs that add vibrant colour and great fragrance to your garden. They are Available in various colours, like classic purple, pink, white and mauve. You can plant hyacinths at the front of garden borders for spring beauty or place them in pots near the house to enjoy their scent and vibrant colours. You can also force hyacinths for indoor displays.
If you’re looking for an easy-growing fragrant plant in your garden, you should learn how to grow hyacinths. Here’s how:
Types of Hyacinth
Modern hyacinths are available in many vibrant colours, each with a unique charm.
‘Hollyhock’: appear to be bold reddish-pink double blooms.
‘Pink Pearl’: Features fuchsia petals with soft pink edges.
‘Woodstock’: Delivers deep plum-coloured petals.
‘Blue Jacket’: Stuns with a dense bloom structure and rich purple-blue flowers.
‘Top White’: Bright white, star-shaped florets that add elegance.
‘City of Haarlem’: A timeless heirloom variety dating back to the late 1800s, with yellow petals that mature into a soft yellow-creamy white.
Hyacinth Care
Plant your hyacinth bulbs in the fall, between September and October. Choose large, healthy bulbs free from signs of disease or decay. Dig a hole three to four times as deep as the bulb’s height, and place the pointed end up.
Plant your hyacinths in full sun for the best blooms. They also grow in partial shade, but make sure they get at least six hours of sunlight daily.
Light
Choosing the right location is essential to learn how to grow Hyacinths. These plants thrive in full to partial sun. They require at least six to eight hours of sunlight daily. In areas with intense sun exposure, use a shade to protect them. As early-blooming spring bulbs, they won’t typically face competition for sunlight from overhanging deciduous trees.
Soil
Luckily, Hyacinths aren’t picky about soil pH but prefer slightly acidic to neutral conditions. They like loose, moderately fertile, and well-draining soil. Avoid overly wet or nutrient-rich soil, as it can cause the bulbs to rot and the stalks to become weak and floppy.
Water
Maintain moist, well-draining soil for your hyacinths, but avoid overwatering to prevent rot and diseases. Rainfall is ideal, but if that’s not enough, provide about 1/2 inch of water weekly. Check the soil with your hand to ensure it stays moist, and water again when the top few inches feel dry.
Temperature and Humidity
Hyacinths thrive in colder temperatures as early spring bloomers. They require exposure to temperatures between 40°F and 45°F for at least three months. If your area doesn’t experience temperatures below 60°F, dig up the bulbs and store them in a dark, cold spot for six to ten weeks before replanting.
In moderate climates, plant hyacinth bulbs about 4 to 5 inches deep. Go a bit deeper in colder areas, planting them around 6 to 7 inches deep. Hyacinths also prefer low humidity for optimal growth.
Fertilizer
After planting, enrich the soil with a bulb-specific, slow-release fertilizer like a 10-10-10 to support healthy hyacinth growth. Mix the fertilizer into the soil before planting. Once the first blooms appear, add a second dose of fertilizer to the surface and repeat this process in the fall for continued vitality.
How To Propagate Hyacinth
If you are a beginner learning how to grow Hyacinths, start with a propagation method instead of seeds.
The best way to propagate hyacinths is by splitting offset bulbs from the parent plant in the fall. This method can take two to three years for the bulblets to grow large enough to produce vibrant flowers, making it a task suited for dedicated gardening enthusiasts.
Here’s how to propagate hyacinths:
- After the flowers have faded but before the foliage turns brown (typically late summer or fall), carefully dig up a mature hyacinth using a trowel. Wear gloves to protect your skin, as the bulbs contain toxins that can cause irritation.
- Gently wash off the soil and separate the clump into individual bulbs—the parent bulb and its bulblets.
- Replant the bulbs immediately in well-draining soil. Mix in sand or compost for better drainage if your soil is dense. A handful of bone meal or bulb fertilizer will give them a good start.
How to Grow Hyacinths From Seed
Growing hyacinths from seed is a more challenging process than propagating them from bulb divisions, and it can take several years before seeds are ready to bloom.
Here’s how to grow hyacinths from seeds:
- After the flowers fade, remove seeds from a healthy, mature hyacinth bloom. Seed pods will form after blooming and mature from green to tan.
- Once the seed pods dry and split open, collect the seeds and soak them in clean water for up to two days.
- Place the seeds on a wet paper towel inside a plastic bag and refrigerate until ready to plant.
- If planting immediately, fill a seed-starting tray with a moist potting mix and evenly spread the seeds. Lightly cover the seeds.
- Keep the tray in a cold environment or greenhouse for up to a year, allowing the seeds to sprout.
- After a year, transplant the sprouted seedlings to their permanent location.
