Hyacinthus orientalis

Common hyacinth
Liliaceae
Bulbs and bulblike plants, Perennials

HYACINTHUS

These fall-planted, spring-flowering, Mediterranean-native bulbs are grown for spikes of bell-shaped, fragrant flowers that rise from basal bundle of narrow bright green leaves.

They need six weeks of temperatures below 45° F to initiate flower formation; if your area doesn't get it, put bulbs in the refrigerator for 6 weeks before planting.

Annuals anywhere but the tropics.

Hyacinthus orientalis

To most gardeners, hyacinths are the highly fragrant, fat-spiked Dutch hybrids derived from this species. They grow to 1 ft. tall, with strap-like leaves that may be erect or arching. Large flower spikes are tightly packed with waxy blooms in white, cream, buff, yellow, pink, salmon, red, blue, or purple. Largest bulbs (called exhibition size) produce largest spikes and are the best choice for containers and forced flowers. Next largest size is good for massing in beds and borders. Smallest bulbs produce smaller, looser flower spikes—same results you’ll get from larger bulbs left in the ground year to year. Dutch hybrids can be grown in all zones outside Hawaii and the tropical southeast, but bulbs left in the ground will persist only in regions with distinct winter cold. Best treated as annuals in zones that don’t get regular hard winter freezes.