Hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
Also listed as Scilla coronaria
Also known as Common Hyacinth, Garden Hyacinth, Wild Hyacinth
Climate Match for your location
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Hyacinth is a spring-blooming bulb prized for its intensely fragrant, densely packed flower spikes in shades of blue, pink, purple, or white. It thrives in cool climates and makes an excellent choice for borders, containers, and forcing indoors.
Why grow it
Hyacinth offers notably dense, fragrant flower spikes that persist longer than many spring bulbs, making it valuable for cut arrangements and spring borders where scent is a priority. Compared to other spring bulbs like tulips or daffodils, hyacinths deliver stronger fragrance from a compact plant, though they require more consistent chilling hours in warmer zones. The range of solid colors and reliable performance in containers or forced indoor displays makes it a practical choice for structured plantings.
Watch out for
Hyacinth bulbs can take one to two seasons to reach full flowering vigor if planted in less-than-ideal drainage, so poor-draining soils may require amendment or raised bed placement. The plant's tendency to flop under its own flower weight becomes more pronounced in rich soils or high-nitrogen conditions, so staking may be needed in exposed locations. Bulbs left in warm, moist soil after flowering often fail to initiate buds for the following season and should be lifted and stored dry in cool areas outside favorable growing regions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asparagaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean, Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Hyacinth is a spring-blooming bulb prized for its intensely fragrant, densely packed flower spikes in shades of blue, pink, purple, or white. It thrives in cool climates and makes an excellent choice for borders, containers, and forcing indoors.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Hyacinth grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Hyacinth offers notably dense, fragrant flower spikes that persist longer than many spring bulbs, making it valuable for cut arrangements and spring borders where scent is a priority. Compared to other spring bulbs like tulips or daffodils, hyacinths deliver stronger fragrance from a compact plant, though they require more consistent chilling hours in warmer zones. The range of solid colors and reliable performance in containers or forced indoor displays makes it a practical choice for structured plantings.
Watch out for
Hyacinth bulbs can take one to two seasons to reach full flowering vigor if planted in less-than-ideal drainage, so poor-draining soils may require amendment or raised bed placement. The plant's tendency to flop under its own flower weight becomes more pronounced in rich soils or high-nitrogen conditions, so staking may be needed in exposed locations. Bulbs left in warm, moist soil after flowering often fail to initiate buds for the following season and should be lifted and stored dry in cool areas outside favorable growing regions.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Asparagaceae
Native Range
Mediterranean, Western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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