Hyacinth 'Purple Star'

Lovely lilac purple with a deeper line through the centre of each petal.

Seriously perfume powered, Hyacinths are the most fragrant of all the spring flowering bulbs and they come in a dynamo range of colours, they really are something special. In fact, Hyacinths are so wonderful that it is a shame not to plant at least a few each spring.

Our Tip: when planting your Hyacinths, it is a good idea to put them somewhere you can enjoy their heady scent; such as along a pathway, in a window box or by your favourite garden chair. Growing Hyacinths in pots gives you the freedom to move them wherever you choose and you can even bring them indoors to enjoy their delicious fragrance.

In the garden, choose a spot that is shaded from the hot afternoon sun, such as beneath deciduous trees. We recommend preparing your soil prior to planting. To do this, dig through some well rotted manure a few weeks before you put your bulbs in. This increases drainage and adds nutrients to the soil. The bulbs are best planted around Mother’s Day, after the soil has cooled.

Plant your Hyacinths 10-15cm deep with the pointy end up, then water in. When planting Hyacinth bulbs it is a good idea to wear gloves as the bulbs have a natural defence (to stop rodents etc. attacking them) the fragile skin flakes off the dry bulb. These flakes can irritate sensitive skin and cause itching, try to resist the urge to scratch and if you are affected, simply wash with warm, soapy water.

In the garden, you can try mixing Hyacinths with other perennials or bulbs for an extra splash of colour. The more you plant, the better the display and the stronger the perfume you can take pleasure in.

If you are planting your Hyacinths in pots, it is ideal to plant them so the bulbs are almost touching, this will create a nice, dense display. You can layer small bulbs such as Spring Star Flowers or annuals such as Pansies on top between a layer of potting mix. This allows you to enjoy a longer display, the and the bulbs will push through to bloom no trouble at all. This has the additional benefit of reminding you keep watering the pot through winter, when the bulbs are growing roots. It is important to water roughly weekly over winter, otherwise their growth could be compromised. The soil should be just moist, not soggy.

Our Tip: after planting, position the pot so it is in a cool, shaded spot (for around the first six to eight weeks or so). As well as reducing water loss from pots, this allows the flower heads to develop slowly, so they don`t grow too quickly and flop, or emerge only part way from the foliage. As the buds emerge, move them into a lightly shaded area, gradually bringing them into the sunshine. Once the blooms are out, you can leave them where they are, take them indoors or wherever you need a pop of colour.

Our tip: water well, regularly, potting mix is perfectly drained so dries out quickly. Drying out early in the bulbs life cycle can cause them to flower short and at a reduced capacity.

Hyacinthmania occurred a century after Tulipmania (1734-1739) A double white with a red eye ‘King of Great Britain’ fuelled the fire and one bulb was worth around $15 000 in today’s money. This variety is now sadly lost to time, as are thousands of others. Today only around 70 Hyacinth varieties are grown commercially.

IN POTS:
This is our recommendation for the best display, keeping in mind bulbs look best when planted nice and close together.

14cm/6” = 3 bulbs
20cm/8” = 6 bulbs
25cm/10” = 9 bulbs

See here for more hints and tips:
Top Ten Tips on How to Plant your Spring Bulbs in Pots

Supplied as: Bulbs
Size: na