About
An early, bulbous perennial with upright, lance-shaped grey-green leaves. Very perfumed, double, upright tubular racemes of star-shaped soft blue flowers appear in the March to April if grown outdoors or around February time if grown indoors.
About the 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
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectEast-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH4
Plant details
Plant typeBulbs, Conservatory Greenhouse, Houseplants
HabitColumnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Houseplants, Patio and container plants
FragranceFlower
ToxicitySkin irritant, Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Pets: Skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationPlant 10cm deep in autumn in any moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. Will not flower in full shade. Protect container grown bulbs from excessive winter wet. Bulbs for indoor displays need to be specially prepared; plant labels will normally indicate whether the bulb is suitable for indoor use. See hyacinth cultivation
PruningNo pruning required
PropagationPropagate by removing offsets when dormant in summer
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs and snails
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free