When and How to Plant Hyacinth Bulbs
Along with tulips and daffodils, hyacinths are a sure sign that spring has arrived in your garden. Biologist and garden enthusiast Lindsay Miller unpacks when and how to plant these fragrant bulbs.
Contents
Every year, the National Gardening Bureau celebrates one annual, perennial, bulb, edible crop, and shrub as their “Year of” plants. Plants acre selected based on their popularity, versatility, and ease of care. In 2021, nestled between the hardy hibiscus and the garden bean, the spring-flowering hyacinth was chosen as the winning bulb candidate.
Long adored for their heady fragrance and stalks of bright white, yellow, pink, purple, or blue flowers, hyacinths have been cultivated by flower-lovers for several hundred years. Standing a diminutive 8-12 inches tall, hyacinths burst into bloom in early to mid spring, around the same time as daffodils, early tulips, glory-of-the-snow, and grape hyacinths. And like these plants, hyacinths are grown from easy-to-plant bulbs. These low-maintenance, undemanding bulbs contain oxalic acid, which makes them unappetizing to deer and chipmunks.
A pest-free plant that is both colorful and fragrant? Yes! Read on, and learn when and how to plant these charming spring-flowering species.
Hyacinth Bulbs
This fall-planted species blooms with incredible color in the early months of spring. Their beautiful blooms are well known for their attractive smell, and carry an essence of springtime when their flowers start to show as early as March.
When to Plant Hyacinths
Hyacinths are hardy bulbs that, once planted, can be left undisturbed in the ground year-round. Unlike their tender equivalents that need to be dug up each fall, hardy species can survive long, freezing winters and actually require a cold period to break their dormancy.
Hyacinth must be exposed to temperatures of 40-45°F (4-7°C) for at least 12-14 weeks. Most gardens in zones 8 and colder will achieve this with no problem; simply plant them in the ground in mid to late fall, any time after the first light frost but before the ground freezes.
Gardeners south of zone 8, where winters are mild and likely frost-free, will need to chill their hyacinth bulbs in an unheated basement or refrigerator prior to planting in the ground. If using a refrigerator, remove ripening fruit, which gives off ethylene gas that can stunt flower development. Place them in a paper bag to prevent the bulbs from dehydrating. Leave the bag in the refrigerator for 12 or so weeks, then plant them outside in the ground, provided the soil temperature is below 60°F (16°C). This is typically in December or January.
How to Plant Hyacinths Outdoors
As with other hardy bulbs, planting hyacinths is incredibly simple and straightforward.
Prepare the Site
Choose a planting location that receives full sun. Some afternoon shade is acceptable, especially for those planted at the warmer end of their hardiness. Hyacinths aren’t overly picky about soil type, but they demand well-drained conditions. Waterlogged soil leads to rotten roots. Amend heavy clay with plenty of compost or leaf mold prior to planting.
Planting
Use a trowel to dig a hole that is 4-6 inches deep. Nestle the bulbs at the bottom of the planting hole with the pointy end facing up. Backfill the planting hole with soil and top the planting site with a loose layer of mulch.
For a natural, lush look, plant them in groupings of 3-7. These plants produce just one flowering stem per bulb, so a single bulb can look a bit sparse in the landscape. Unless you are going for a very formal vibe, avoid single rows and straight lines. Plant hyacinth bulbs in drifts among other spring-flowering species like snowdrops, daffodils, tulips, and crocuses, for a continuous wave of color.
Watering
Water hyacinth deeply immediately after planting. It’s important to encourage plenty of root development before they enter dormancy for the winter. Unless the late fall weather is particularly dry, I find that one good soaking before the winter weather arrives is sufficient for most hardy bulbs.
How to Plant Hyacinths Indoors
Hyacinths and other hardy bulbs can be grown in a pot indoors. This is commonly called “forcing”, as the bulb is made to flower beyond its normal bloom time. Some planning and foresight is required, as the bulb still needs to be subjected to a lengthy cold period. Having a container of sweetly scented hyacinths on your countertop in the middle of winter is well worth the effort!
The best hyacinth cultivars for indoor forcing are:
- ‘Amethyst’ (pale purple)
- ‘Blue Jacket’ (blue)
- ‘Delft Blue’ (porcelain blue)
- ‘Jan Bos’ (red)
- ‘Pink Pearl’ (pink)
- ‘Yellow Queen’ (yellow)
Chilling then Planting
Place your hyacinth in a paper bag and tuck the bag in a refrigerator. As mentioned above, be sure that any ethylene-producing fruit is removed first. Leave the bag in the refrigerator for at least 12 weeks.
Once the chilling period is up, remove the hyacinth bulbs from the refrigerator and plant them in your selected container. Make sure the container is at least 6 inches deep, has adequate drainage, and is filled with a high-quality potting soil. Water them deeply, then place the container in a bright, warm (60-70°F or 16-21°C) room.
Planting Then Chilling
Some gardeners prefer to pot up in soil prior to chilling. This method works well if you don’t want to give up precious refrigerator space, but you do have a chilly garage, barn, or basement available.
Choose a container that is at least 6 inches deep and has a drainage hole at the bottom. Fill your container with a quality potting soil. Settle the hyacinth bulbs on the soil surface (pointy side up!) and backfill additional potting soil around them. Leave the very tips exposed.
Place the containers to a cool, dark location, where they will be exposed to 40-45°F (4-7°C) temperatures for at least 12 weeks. Water them occasionally, when the potting soil dries out.
Once the chilling period is up, relocate the container of soil and bulbs to a warm (60-70°F or 16-21°C) location with plenty of bright light. You may see tiny yellow-green shoots beginning to emerge from the bulb. Keep them well-watered. On average, flowering should begin 3-4 weeks after the bulbs have been removed from their cold storage.
Forcing is energetically taxing on a bulb, so it’s unlikely that it will flower again. Your best bet? Once the blooms have faded, toss the spent bulb in the compost, and purchase fresh ones the next time you’d like to grow hyacinths.
Key Takeaways
Do your spring garden a favor and get some hyacinth bulbs in the ground (or container) this fall. Their bold colors and bright fragrance will be a welcome relief after months of gray winter. Hyacinths, like tulips, look their absolute best the first spring or two after planting. After 4 or 5 years, hyacinth bulbs lose their vigor and you may not see blooms. That’s ok though – think of it as an opportunity to try some new hyacinth varieties!
