Hyacinth, Garden hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
Family: Hyacinthaceae
What it is like
Bloom Color: Pink, Red. Main Bloom Time: Early spring, Mid spring. Form: Upright or erect
Hyacinthus orientalis is a BULB growing to 0.3 m (1ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a slow rate. It is not frost tender. It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.
Height (m): 0.3
Where it is found
Among rocks, up to 2000 metres in Turkey
W. Asia. Naturalized in Europe around the Mediterranean.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 0
Medicine
Rating: 0
Other
Rating: 2
An essential oil obtained from the flowers is used in perfumery. 1kg of the oil is obtained from 6,000kg of flowers. A blue dye is obtained from the flowers.
Dye: Plants that provide dyes.
Essential: Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.
Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent
How it is grown
Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen. Easily grown in a well-drained sandy soil in full sun. Prefers a moderately rich soil. The dormant bulbs are fairly hardy and will withstand soil temperatures down to at least -5°c. A very ornamental plant, there are many named varieties. When grown outdoors in Britain the bulb often gradually deteriorates each year due to a lack of summer heat that is required to fully ripen the bulb. Eventually they look more like a bluebell than a hyacinth. Bulbs should be planted out 7cm deep in October. The flowers have a strong sweet fragrance that can fill the air for a considerable distance. Special Features:All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Suitable for cut flowers, Fragrant flowers.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in a light sandy soil. If sown thinly, the seedlings can be left in their pots for the first year, though give them regular liquid feeds to make sure that they get sufficient nutrient. Prick out the seedlings about 3 to a pot and grow on for 1 - 2 more years before planting out into their permanent positions when they are dormant. Division in the autumn. Plant the small offsets 5cm deep. Larger bulbs can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on for a year in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer. Scooping and scoring.
Best place to grow: Cultivated Beds;
Habit: Bulb
Hardiness: 3-7
Growth: Slow
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: Semi-shade, no shade
Moisture: Moist
Things to keep in mind
Poisonous, the sap can cause dermatitis. The toxins are concentrated in the bulb.