Planting, Growing, and Caring for Hyacinths
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Ahhh! The scent of hyacinth is intoxicating in springtime! And who can resist the tiny blue Muscari? Learn more about planting these spring-flowering bulbs as well as caring for the pretty pastel flowers after they bloom.
About Hyacinths and Grape Hyacinths
- Hyacinths (Hyacinthus): Originally a pale blue or violet flower, hyacinths now come in a rainbow of colors, including lilacs, pinks, white, cobalt blue, cream, apricot, and even a blood-red hue. Each hyacinth bulb generally produces one flower stalk that stands 8 to 10 inches tall. The hyacinth’s loose-to-dense racemes (clusters) of strongly fragrant flowers may be closely packed single or double flowers.
- Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are not directly related to true hyacinths, but also bloom in mid-spring and have the same care requirements. This tiny wonder has small clusters of bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers.
Note: This page will refer to both Hyacinthus and Muscari plants as “hyacinths” for simplicity’s sake!
As hyacinths are one of the first blooms, they look best at the front of a perennial garden, near the front door, along a walkway, or in mixed borders. These beauties are also a great choice for pots and planters. Hyacinths make wonderful cutting flowers, too, and look stunning in bouquets. As the flowers are famous for their fragrance, you can bring the sweet scent of spring inside!
The Victorians revered hyacinths for their sweet, lingering fragrance, and carefully massed them in low beds, planting them in rows of one color each. In general, hyacinths are said to symbolize playfulness, sport, and rashness, though their meanings are color-dependent. Learn more about the meanings of flowers.
Please note: Most hyacinths grow in Zones 3 to 9. They must have cold temperatures of 40° to 45°F (4° to 7°C) for at least 12 to 14 weeks. If temperatures in your area do not get this cold, you’ll need to pre-chill the bulbs in a refrigerator before planting them outdoors.
Warning: Hyacinth bulbs (and daffodil bulbs) contain a substance called oxalic acid, which can be irritating to bare skin. Use gloves when handling these bulbs for extended periods.
Planting
Choose a planting site that gets full sun for the largest blooms and straightest stems. The bulbs are tolerant of partial shade as well.
Grow in loosened, moderately fertile soil that drains well. Avoid planting low areas where water collects; hyacinths will rot in wet soil! Before planting, loosen the soil and work in 2 to 4 inches of compost or bonemeal for fertility.
When to Plant Hyacinths
- Like other spring-blooming bulbs, plant hyacinth bulbs in mid-to-late autumn, any time after your first fall frost and before the ground freezes.
How to Plant Hyacinths
- Plant hyacinth bulbs 4 to 5 inches deep. Space bulbs 5 to 6 inches apart (grape hyacinths can be 2 inches apart). At the northern limits of their hardiness (USDA Zone 3), plant 1 to 2 inches deeper to ensure winter hardiness.
- Dig out a larger area if you wish to plant five or more bulbs simultaneously. Hyacinths look beautiful in groupings of five to nine bulbs. Grape hyacinths also look best in masses and loose drifts.
- Set the bulb in the hole with the pointy end up.
- After planting and covering with soil, water thoroughly.
- Apply a 1- to 2-inch layer of mulch around the plants to discourage weeds and disease.
- If you are transplanting, water sparingly and then do not water again until flower buds appear the following year.
Forcing Hyacinth Bulbs Indoors
- Hyacinth bulbs may be forced into early growth for indoor display in the winter. Plant them with the tips just showing, in soil-based potting mix in containers with drainage holes.
- Keep in a dark place at temperatures above freezing but no higher than 45°F (7°C), for at least 10 weeks to allow roots to develop.
- When shoots are about 1 inch long, increase light and temperature gradually.
- Water carefully and avoid wetting the shoots or waterlogging the soil. Soil should be moist, not wet.
- After flowering, forced hyacinths may be transplanted into the garden, and they will flower again in subsequent years.
- Hyacinth orientalis ‘Blue Jacket’: One of the great blues of the flower world. These award-winning hyacinths display big columns of royal blue florets with crisp white edges.
- H. orientalis ‘City of Haarlem’: A wonderful heirloom variety that’s been popular since the late 1800s. The flowers are soft, primrose yellow, maturing to creamy white.
- H. orientalis ‘Gypsy Queen’: ‘Gypsy Queen’ is an heirloom hyacinth with salmon pink petals with peach and buttery-yellow highlights.
- H. orientalis ‘Jan Bos’: Intensely fragrant, this award-winning hyacinth has fuschia-pink florets that are tightly packed into large flowerheads.
- H. orientalis ‘Miss Saigon’: With a deep, rich purple color, this fragrant hyacinth is covered with starry, violet florets. Gorgeous!
- H. orientalis ‘Pink Pearl’: Rose-pink flower heads turn heads with their cotton-candy sweetness; ‘Pink Pearl’ is a favorite for spring containers to add a pop of color.
- Muscari armeniacum: This grape hyacinth has small and delicate cobalt-blue flowers that look gorgeous when planted en masse.
Catherine Boeckmann
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Hello to North of England! Don’t water it. (Hae you been?) You can leave it in the soil, just let it fade away—as it would have if in the ground. It might be confused—not due to anything you did or did not do. Holiday plants are often “forced” to bloom out of season to be sold, like yours, on the commercial/gift market. It might be totally off the clock. If the foliage is still on it and it is dry, cut it. Put is aside, and plant it in the fall. Be warned, hyacinths need a cold period in order to re-bloom; if you try to force it indoors, it needs 8 to 10 weeks at 35°F to 40°F, according to one source. … Not that’s not nearly as cold as we get here in New England!
After our flowers died off the stalks have these large berry like bulbs at the ends. Are these seeds? Can we plant them?
Anna- I too have these berry like bulbs on the stalks of a few of my hyacinth. I am also trying to find out some information on what these are and can they be planted. I have tried to find out information on this by searching internet on the growing and care of hyacinth but have found nothing. I was overjoyed to see your submission and glad to know that I am not the only one that have these berry like bulbs.
I planted some new hyacinth bulbs(muscari armeniacum)last October in central New Jersey and they bloomed nicely this spring. I have a few questions on their care:
Is it a good idea to dig up and separate the bulbs?
If so, should I do it this season or wait a year?
When should I dig up the bulbs?
Before planting again in October how should I store the bulbs?
Thanks,
helixal
Grape hyacinths need dividing about every three to five years, or when they become crowded. In a couple of years dig up the bulbs after flowers have faded and the foliage has died back. Break off the old bulb on the bottom and discard it. Divide the remaining smaller bulbs and replant them about 4 to 5 inches apart.
Hi, I'm in zone 10A-10B and bought a potted Hyacinth. I already cut back the bloom and am waiting for the leaves to turn yellow/brown and then I will cut it down to the soil. It came in a small plastic pot and I want to re-pot it into a clay pot. After reading comments and replies, my questions are these: Should I re-pot it in the clay pot, then store the bulb while potted in the refrigerator for 4 months? Or should I remove the bulb, place in a paper bag and store in the refrigerator for 4 months and then re-pot after the 4 months? And while it's in the refrigerator does it need any watering? Thanks in advance!
I seeing that some Hyacinths say plant in full sun then some say plant in full shade then some say patial shade/full sun.. So which is correct? And I am in zone -8b-9 it does NOT ever freeze here, so will Hyacinths do good in my zone.
thanks
cathy
We recommend to plant hyacinths in well-drained, moderately fertile soil in sun or partial shade. The bulbs grow best in Zones 4-8. You can try to plant a couple of bulbs and see if they will come up next spring. You may need to refrigrate them for about 4 to 6 weeks prior to planting them in the ground.
I bought some potted hyacinths last month. They have finished flowering and the leaves are dying back. Should I transplant the bulbs into the ground now or should I store them in a paper bag in a cool dry place till fall, then plant them?
There are some hyacinths in the church garden. The blooms were not cut back when they finished blooming and not have clusters things that look like bulbs on the stems. Are these seeds or new bulbs? Will they grow if planted?
