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How to Grow Hyacinths: The Complete Hyacinth Flower Guide

Photo Credit
Marcin Jucha/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Hyacinthus (True Hyacinths); Muscari (Grape Hyacinths)
Plant Type
Flower
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Part Sun
Bloom Time
Spring
Flower Color
Blue
Orange
Pink
Purple
Red
White
Yellow
Hardiness Zone
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

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Planting, Growing, and Caring for Hyacinths

Catherine Boeckmann

Ahhh! The scent of hyacinth is intoxicating in springtime! And who can resist the tiny blue Muscari? Learn more about planting these spring-flowering bulbs as well as caring for the pretty pastel flowers after they bloom.

About Hyacinths and Grape Hyacinths

  • Hyacinths (Hyacinthus): Originally a pale blue or violet flower, hyacinths now come in a rainbow of colors, including lilacs, pinks, white, cobalt blue, cream, apricot, and even a blood-red hue. Each hyacinth bulb generally produces one flower stalk that stands 8 to 10 inches tall. The hyacinth鈥檚 loose-to-dense racemes (clusters) of strongly fragrant flowers may be closely packed single or double flowers.
Close-up of Hyacinth flowers in full bloom. Credit: Elena Tratsevskaya
  • Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are not directly related to true hyacinths, but also bloom in mid-spring and have the same care requirements. This tiny wonder has small clusters of bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers.
Blue muscari. Credit: Shebeko

Note: This page will refer to both Hyacinthus and Muscari plants as 鈥渉yacinths鈥 for simplicity鈥檚 sake!

As hyacinths are one of the first blooms, they look best at the front of a perennial garden, near the front door, along a walkway, or in mixed borders. These beauties are also a great choice for pots and planters. Hyacinths make wonderful cutting flowers, too, and look stunning in bouquets. As the flowers are famous for their fragrance, you can bring the sweet scent of spring inside!

The Victorians revered hyacinths for their sweet, lingering fragrance, and carefully massed them in low beds, planting them in rows of one color each. In general, hyacinths are said to symbolize playfulness, sport, and rashness, though their meanings are color-dependent. Learn more about the meanings of flowers.

Please note: Most hyacinths grow in zones 3 to 9. They must have cold temperatures of 40掳 to 45掳F (4掳 to 7掳C) for at least 12 to 14 weeks. If temperatures in your area do not get this cold, you鈥檒l need to pre-chill the bulbs in a refrigerator before planting them outdoors. 

Warning: Hyacinth bulbs (and daffodil bulbs) contain a substance called oxalic acid, which can be irritating to bare skin. Use gloves when handling these bulbs for extended periods.

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Planting

Choose a planting site that gets full sun for the largest blooms and straightest stems. The bulbs are tolerant of partial shade as well.

Grow in loosened, moderately fertile soil that drains well. Avoid planting low areas where water collects; hyacinths will rot in wet soil! Before planting, loosen the soil and work in 2 to 4 inches of compost or bonemeal for fertility.

When to Plant Hyacinths

  • Like other spring-blooming bulbs, plant hyacinth bulbs in mid-to-late autumn, any time after your first fall frost and before the ground freezes.

How to Plant Hyacinths

  • Plant hyacinth bulbs 4 to 5 inches deep. Space bulbs 5 to 6 inches apart (grape hyacinths can be 2 inches apart). At the northern limits of their hardiness (USDA Zone 3), plant 1 to 2 inches deeper to ensure winter hardiness.
  • Dig out a larger area if you wish to plant five or more bulbs simultaneously. Hyacinths look beautiful in groupings of five to nine bulbs. Grape hyacinths also look best in masses and loose drifts.
  • Set the bulb in the hole with the pointy end up.
  • After planting and covering with soil, water thoroughly.
  • Apply a 1-to-2-inch layer of mulch around the plants to discourage weeds and disease.
  • If you are transplanting, water sparingly and then do not water again until flower buds appear the following year.

Forcing Hyacinth Bulbs Indoors

  • Hyacinth bulbs may be forced into early growth for indoor display in the winter. Plant them with the tips just showing, in soil-based potting mix in containers with drainage holes.
  • Keep in a dark place at temperatures above freezing but no higher than 45掳F (7掳C), for at least ten weeks to allow roots to develop.
  • When shoots are about 1 inch long, increase light and temperature gradually.
  • Water carefully, avoiding wetting the shoots or waterlogging the soil. Soil should be moist, not wet.
  • After flowering, forced hyacinths may be transplanted into the garden, and they will flower again in subsequent years.

Growing

Caring for Hyacinths

  • Do NOT overwater hyacinth. They do not like standing water or having 鈥渨et feet.鈥 Water ONLY if the soil is dry at a depth of 3 inches. If it is dry at that depth, it is time to water.  
  • Water deeply at the soil level, not from overhead or with a sprinkler which encourages disease. Lay the hose end next to the plant, turn the hose on low, and water for about 30 minutes or until the soil is moist. A soaker hose turned on low for a few hours will cover a larger area effectively.
  • With the organic matter and mulch, you do not need to fertilize. However, it’s OK to sprinkle a commercial organic fertilizer over the soil. 
  • Protect container-grown plants from excessive winter moisture by covering them or moving them to a sheltered area.

Types

  • Hyacinth orientalis 鈥Blue Jacket鈥: One of the great blues of the flower world. These award-winning hyacinths display big columns of royal blue florets with crisp white edges. 
  • H. orientalis 鈥楥ity of Haarlem鈥: A wonderful heirloom variety that’s been popular since the late 1800s. The flowers are soft, primrose yellow, maturing to creamy white.
  • H. orientalis 鈥楪ypsy Queen鈥: 鈥楪ypsy Queen鈥 is an heirloom hyacinth with salmon pink petals with peach and buttery-yellow highlights.
  • H. orientalis 鈥楯an Bos’: Intensely fragrant, this award-winning hyacinth has fuschia-pink florets that are tightly packed into large flowerheads.
  • H. orientalis 鈥Miss Saigon鈥: With a deep, rich purple color, this fragrant hyacinth is covered with starry, violet florets. Gorgeous!
  • H. orientalis 鈥楶ink Pearl鈥: Rose-pink flower heads turn heads with their cotton-candy sweetness; 鈥楶ink Pearl鈥 is a favorite for spring containers to add a pop of color.
  • Muscari armeniacum: This grape hyacinth has small and delicate cobalt-blue flowers that look gorgeous when planted en masse.

Harvesting

What to Do With Hyacinths After Flowering

Outdoors

  • After your hyacinths have finished flowering, remove the blooms, but don’t remove the foliage. The bulbs need their leaves to gather energy for next year’s blooms. The foliage will die back naturally at the end of the spring season. Remove when the leaves have turned brown to help prevent fungal diseases.
  • Hyacinth bulbs can remain in the ground throughout the year in most planting zones. If you live a warm climate where temperatures do not get below 60掳F, bulbs should be dug up in the fall and refrigerated in a cool, dry area for 6 to 8 weeks. Hyacinths require a period of colder weather to bloom. 

Indoors

  • Hyacinth bulbs that have finished flowering indoors can be transplanted into the garden. After flowering, they need time to gather energy for next year’s blooms, so they should not be placed directly into storage. 
  • After their foliage dies back outdoors, hyacinth bulbs can be brought indoors and stored in a cool, dark, dry place until the fall or winter. 
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Wit and Wisdom

Are Hyacinth Bulbs Poisonous to Cats and Dogs?

Yes, hyacinth bulbs are poisonous to pets. Many spring flowers, such as hyacinths and daffodils, contain a compound that may cause stomach and respiratory issues and skin irritation. This substance鈥攃alcium oxalate鈥攊s most concentrated in the bulbs, but is also found in the foliage and flowers of the hyacinth plant. Keep hyacinths out of reach of curious pets and children, and wear gloves when handling hyacinth bulbs for long periods of time.

The one upside to the hyacinth’s toxicity is that common garden pests, such as squirrels and groundhogs, often aren’t as tempted to eat your hyacinth bulbs!

Will Hyacinths Bloom Again?

Yes and no. Hyacinths bloom just once yearly (in the spring), but they will happily bloom again in subsequent years if provided with the proper care. They are a perennial plant.

Pests/Diseases

  •  Bulbs are prone to gray mold and bulb rot when kept too wet.
Flowers
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Tammy (not verified)

8 years 8 months ago

I just bought a Hyacinth plant in a vase this it is too small now that the plant has started to bloom. I am not sure if I can put it in potting soil and keep it inside a bit longer. I live in SC and would like to know how to get it out of the small vase because it keeps falling over and I am afraid it's going to break. I think it is to early to put it outside yet. Thanks

We are guessing that the bulb is in a vase that has a narrow neck, and the bulb sits in the neck and its roots float in water below it. That’s a lovely display, and yes, these can become top heavy, causing the vase to fall over. It’s normal. Our best advice is to leave it in the vase until it completes its bloom, then cut off the stem a couple of inches from the bulb. Then plant it. You won’t know for a year if it will be a success.

On the longshot chance that the bulb is below the narrow neck of the vase and can not be lifted from it, you probably have to give it up. When the bulb is done, let it dry out and then pick at it with a knife to make it smaller (and yes, in pieces) and clean out the vase so you can use it again. Or, break the vase to get the bulb鈥攂ut, honestly, you can get more bulbs more easily.

We hope this helps!

shelia (not verified)

8 years 9 months ago

I am in zone 5 and just bought 2 bulbs in glass vases with healthy roots. They have green leaves and a cluster in the middle that I'm sure is ready to show their beauty. I'd like to plant them in a pot outdoors but is unsure of the proper time to do so. Please help. Thanks

Wait until night temps. stay above freezing to plant the hyacinths outdoors. These bulbs have been forced to bloom in the vases and will not bloom again this year. If you plant them outdoors in the garden after the blooms and foliage have faded they may bloom again next spring.

Cathy (not verified)

8 years 9 months ago

I bought a plant and it started to wild 5 day later. I live in the northers desert of Arizona. We do not really get cold weather what can I do to have it for next year..please it is my favorite..I have it on my window seal inside the house..and part of the bulb is showing???????

Stacy (not verified)

8 years 9 months ago

I bought a hyacinth a few weeks back and the flowers have dried up already. I've just cut the flowers off. The leaves are still green. Is there anything else I need to do to ensure that the bulb can grow flowers again? The bulb is kinda dry and wrinkled on the outside. Is that ok? Just for your info, the plant in currently in a very small pot and I live in a warm humid country. I've been watering the plant every 3 days or so.

Jenn (not verified)

8 years 9 months ago

I bought 2 bags of red hyacinths in the fall of 2015, and apparently forgot to plant them. I found them in our garage, with about 1 inch green sprouts. We live in NC, so what should I do to still enjoy them this spring? Thanks!

If your garage is unheated you can now plant them in big containers and leave them in the garage until the ground is workable and you can plant them outdoors. Or you can move the containers outdoors when the weather allows it.

Robin (not verified)

8 years 9 months ago

I received the most beautiful arrangement of 50 hyacinths for my 50th birthday. Some were cut stems, others are bulbs, and they are submerged in water. The cut stems are starting to fade, so I removed the best ones to smaller vases, but I do not know what to do with the bulbs. They are large bulbs and magnificent blooms and I'd like to save them to replant. Do I remove them from the water? Plant them now in soil? Cut it back? Do I leave the roots in tact? I cannot find anything regarding a submerged bulb, but I know it will rot. I do not know when to cut it and what to do with the bulb. There are many bulbs.
BTW - the fragrance of 50 hyacinths is beyond description!

Wow! 50 hyacinths must have been an amazing sight! Plant the bulbs in a container or containers with soil. The plants will bloom and then fade. The leaves will turn yellow and then brown. When the plants have died back you can remove the leaves and plant the bulbs outdoors. They need a chilling period before they will bloom again next spring. Leave them in the ground if you live in a cold climate. Place the bulbs in the refrigerator for 8 to 10 weeks if you live in a warm climate.