Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis · Asparagaceae
📷 Rasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0
⚠️ Bulbes toxiques par ingestion pour chiens, chats et enfants. Provoquent irritation et troubles gastro-intestinaux.
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant hyacinth: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Type
- Flowering bulb
- Adult height
- 25 to 30 cm
- Flowering
- March to April
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Hardiness
- Very hardy (-15 °C)
- Origin
- Asia Minor and the Levant
- Growth
- Rapid in spring
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Plant bulbs in November in well-worked soil, 10 cm deep. After flowering, let the foliage die back naturally (6 weeks) to recharge the bulb.
The common mistake
Cutting green leaves immediately after flowering: the bulb won't replenish itself and will be weak next year.
The pro's trick
Once completely faded (end of May), dig up, dry in the shade for two weeks, store at 17°C in a dry place until October.
Care
Light
Place your hyacinth in full sun or partial shade. It needs at least 6 hours of direct light to flower generously. A bright location promotes the production of dense, colorful flowers.
Watering
In autumn and winter, keep the soil moist but well-drained. Water moderately during the growing period. Once flowers fade, gradually reduce watering. Avoid standing water which could rot the bulb.
Soil
Prefer fertile, well-structured and well-drained soil. Adding sand or gravel improves drainage, which is essential to prevent bulb suffocation. Hyacinth appreciates slightly chalky soils.
Fertilizing
Apply balanced fertilizer or potassium-rich fertilizer in autumn when planting the bulb. In spring, when leaves appear, an additional application promotes abundant and prolonged flowering.
Pruning and deadheading
Remove faded flowers as soon as they dry out, without damaging the stem. Keep the foliage until it dries completely to allow the bulb to rebuild its reserves. You can replant it the following year.
Diseases and pests
Hyacinth is generally robust. Watch for rot due to excessive moisture and aphids in spring. Well-drained soil and sufficient aeration prevent most fungal problems.
Did you know?
The Oriental hyacinth was revered in 17th-century Ottoman Turkey, where it sparked an epidemic botanical passion called "Tulip Mania". Its intensely fragrant flowers inspired poets and royal gardeners, who vied with each other to create new varieties with ever more exotic colors.
Where to buy it
Plant the bulbs in autumn for spring flowering. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: from September to November.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.