Hyacinthus orientalis
common hyacinth
A bulbous perennial to around 30cm high, with strap-shaped, channeled, glossy leaves. In spring, produces a dense cylindrical spike of fragrant, waxy, tubular bell-shaped flowers, pale violet at the base and near white above
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
1–2 yearsUltimate spread
0–0.1 metreGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Purple | 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
Correct
- Plant range
- Turkey to Israel
How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in moderately fertile soil with good drainage. Will tolerate partial shade but will not flower as well as in full sun. Protect container-grown plants from hard frosts and excess wet. Specially treated bulbs are available for earlier flowering indoors. 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, including hyacinth fire, blue mould rot and sclerotinia diseases, to bacterial soft rot and hyacinth yellows, and to some virus diseases
Get involved
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