I Can Tell By The Smell…
Fragrance is the word that I most associate with spring. The aroma of lilacs and the perfume of honeysuckle are just two of the distinctive scents of this season, but one of the most popular fragrances of spring are that of the hyacinth bulb. The tubular bell-shaped flower spikes of this spring-flowering bulb grow 12 to 18 inches tall and the cool temperatures of spring seem to only enhance the hyacinth’s bouquet which is a welcome change after a long, cold winter.
Hyacinths come in a wide range of colors. In fact, the only colors that may not be available are green and black. This trait means that it is possible to create some stunning color combinations with these bulbs. How about purple, lilac, and white? If you want a warmer feel than try red, orange, and yellow. They also look impressive when you plant them in masses of the same color. Pink and blue mass plantings can be an impressive sight to see and they also look striking when planted with other spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips and daffodils.
When planted in the fall they do best in well-drained garden soil which is not wet. They should be planted in full sun but can tolerate some light shade. They do well in garden zones 4 through 9 but they do have a tendency to be short-lived. Most only bloom for 2 to 4 years and they are not easy to propagate so if you enjoy this bulb you need to anticipate planting it frequently. These bulbs can be planted about 4 inches deep except in Northern areas where they should be planted about 6 to 8 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart.
Once the bulb is finished blooming you can remove the spent flower stem but should leave the foliage in place and allow it to turn yellow so that the bulb stores food for next year. While they look beautiful outdoors hyacinths are just as attractive when they are grown indoors. They have been used for indoor forcing for centuries and there are decorative vases that are known as hyacinth vases or glasses that have been developed for just this purpose.
Hyacinths can be planted in beds, borders or containers but you want to be sure you plant them where you can enjoy their fragrance. Flower beds under windows that you open to catch spring breezes or containers planted near the sliding glass door on a deck are perfect places for these bulbs. One drawback to these bulbs is that they are easily damaged by spring rains and winds, but their heavenly aroma makes this an acceptable trade-off doesn’t it?
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