Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Pink | Green | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | ||||
| Autumn | ||||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Exposed or Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Columnar upright
- Potentially harmful
- Skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
- Genus
Hyacinthus are bulbous perennial with glossy, broadly strap-shaped leaves and fragrant, bell-shaped flowers with recurved petals, borne in loose or dense racemes in spring
- Name status
Accepted
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile soil with good drainage. Will tolerate partial shade but flowering is best in full sun. Protect container-grown plants from hard frosts and excess winter wet. Specially treated bulbs can be grown indoors for earlier flowering. See hyacinth cultivation for more detailed advice
Propagation
Propagate by division, separating offsets when dormant in summer
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Houseplants
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Underplanting of roses and shrubs
Pruning
No pruning required; cut spent flower stems back to the base
Pests
Diseases
May be susceptible to fungal infections, bacterial soft rot and hyacinth yellows, and to some virus diseases
Get involved
The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.