What is a Hyacinth Flower? A Garden Perfume That Imitates The Spring

Flowers accentuate the outdoor living area more than any other ornamental decor piece, and when a sweet floral scent accompanies the blooming, vibrant garden, it makes the ambience even more pleasing. The Hyacinth flower meets all these requirements beautifully. 

I personally love the shape of the hyacinth, but what made me love the bloom was the scent that one cannot ignore. Dive into this immersive guide about the hyacinth plant, covering the growth, care tips and the lesser-known insights. 

What is the Hyacinth Flower? Origin, Overview, and Taxonomy

Scientifically known as Hyacinthus Orientalis, this flower is a spring flower that is known for its vibrant colours and pleasing scent. The hyacinth flower forms a cluster on the central stem that gives it a bell-shaped structure.

Native to the Eastern Mediterranean, the hyacinth plant meaning is associated with the cycle of life and death. 

Whether it is the pink hyacinths or the blue ones, they represent different meanings, but essentially, this flower draws its meaning from a Greek myth that is explained in the next part. 

Origin of Hyacinth Flowers 

The origin of the hyacinth plant is connected to a tragic story that encapsulates all the symbolism the flower holds today. 

Hyacinth was a handsome Spartan prince who was the lover of Apollo, the god of the sun. They were close companions, but had a tragic ending due to the envy of Zephyrus (wind god), who was also an admirer of Hyacinth’s beauty. 

A discus thrown by Apollo was diverted towards Hyacinth, which led to his tragic death.  

Apollo, devastated by this, transformed the blood of Hyacinth into a flower. This is how the flower got its name and got associated with the symbol of rebirth. 

Now that the origin of the Hyacinthus Orientalis is understood, let us understand the scientific classification before diving into the growing and care tips. 

Scientific name	Hyacinth Orientalis
Kingdom	Plantae
Division	Magnoliophyta
Class	Liliopsida
Order	Liliales
Family	Liliaceae
Genus	Hyacinthus L.

What are the Different Types of Hyacinth Plant Varieties? 

There are essentially 3 species of this genus: Hyacinthus orientalis, hyacinthus litwinovii and Hyacinthus transcaspicus, which then branch into more than 2,000 cultivars. Let me take you through the most popular types: 

Type	Image	Description
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Pink pearl’		This pink hyacinth is a recipient of the ‘Garden Merit’ Award of the Royal Horticultural Society. It features a cluster of star-shaped pink flowers.
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Blue jacket’		Also known as ‘Dutch hyacinth’, this blue hyacinth grows up to 8-12 inches tall. Featuring dark blue flowers, this type of the genus has also received the ‘GardenMerit’ Award by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Top white’		The Hyacinthus orientalis is a variety of the orientalis species of the hyacinth genus. It grows snow white flowers, dark green foliage that is perfect for indoor plants or garden borders.
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Hollyhock’		The Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Hollyhock’ features double dark-pink star-shaped flowers. This flower got its name due to the resemblance to the Hollyhock flower from the Alcea species.
Hyacinthus orientalis ‘City of Harleem’		This flower is named after the bulb-growing city ‘Harleem’ in the Netherlands. It is identified by the bright yellow closer to ivory colour of flowers with green leaves.

Read next: 23 Best Tall Flowers for Your Garden: Top Varieties & Care Guide

How Can I Grow the Hyacinth Flowers in my Garden? 

Hyacinths are a perfect choice for indoor plants and garden beds as well, especially because growing garden hyacinth flowers is a hassle-free process. 

So, whether you are an expert or a newbie, these blooms do not require extra attention. 

Before exploring the planting steps, understand the ideal growth requirements of the flower. 

Ideal Growing Requirements 

The hyacinth flower is susceptible to root rot, and the ideal growing requirements need to be taken care of to prevent any damage and ensure vibrant blooms.   

Planting season	Late fall
Soil type	Loamy and well-draining
Water requirements	Soil should be moist but not soggy
Sunlight	Full to partial
Mature height	6-12 inches
Fertilizer	Balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer
Hardiness Zone	USDA zone 3-9

Hyacinth Flower Planting Steps

The Hyacinth flowers are planted in the form of bulbs. Honestly, the whole process can be a little tedious, but here is a simple breakdown to make this process a little easier in case you are a beginner. 

1. Ideal for containers or garden beds, the hyacinth plants prefer loamy, well-drained soil. 

2. Mix organic manure into the soil for added nutrition and soil fertility.  

3. Plant the hyacinth flower bulb 4 inches deep in the soil and 8 cm apart. 

4. Pat the soil around the plant and water it. Make sure that the soil is moist and not soggy to prevent waterlogging. 

Also Read: How to Grow Crocosmia? Planting Tips, Care Advice, and Blooming Secrets

How to Care for Hyacinth Plants? 

The hyacinth care does not take a lot of your time; it is a matter of little consideration while planting, and you are good to go.

1. Watering: During the growing season, water the plant regularly and keep the soil moist while looking out for waterlogging.

2. Fertiliser: Use a balanced 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 fertiliser to replenish the nutrients and vibrant blooms. 

3. Pruning: Remove the spent flowers to promote new growth. This ensures thick growth and prevents damage caused by the dead parts of the plant. 

4. Stalking: The hyacinth flowers are tall and can get heavy after a point, which can lead to bending and falling. Stalking supports the plant to stay upright without breaking.

This process also encourages growth. 

How to Propagate the Garden Hyacinth Flowers? 

Propagating is the process of creating a new plant from the roots of a mature plant. It helps in creating more blooms from the same plant and also avoids overcrowding after the plant has flowered to its full potential. 

The first step is to dig up the mature plant. There will be a significant difference between the two types of hyacinth bulbs: one that has developed child bulbs and another that has not. 

The propagation method using each will be different; let’s see how: 

Type	Image	Method
Roots with child bulbs		Dig up the mature plant carefully. Now, wash the roots and remove the soil. The bulbs that have developed child bulbs should be planted as they are, in well-draining soil.
Roots without child bulbs		Cut the grass around the hyacinth bulbs that were not multiplying. Remove the roots, and the remaining part is called the basal plate( the part where the roots grow from). Either make a cut in the basal plate using a knife or make horizontal and vertical cuts. Place them upside down in a well-draining loamy soil.

Interesting Insights About the Hyacinth Flower 

The only interesting thing about the hyacinth flowers is not the scent and the star-shaped flowers; there is a series of things starting from ancient Greek mythology to modern queer connections that you might not know about. 

Explore the lesser-known facts about the hyacinth flowers and make planting even more interesting: 

1. The hyacinths are planted in large numbers alongside Tulips for the annual Istanbul Tulip festival in April. 

2. From myth to modern, the story of Apollo and Hyacinth in Greek mythology has made its way to the modern LGBTQIA+ community and has become a strong symbol of gay love. 

3. Symbolic of the idea of sorrow, the purple hyacinths are used as funeral flowers. 
4. Also widely recognised for its sweet fragrance, the scent of hyacinth is also used in the famous perfume Chanel No.19. 

5. The sweet-smelling blooms are, in reality, toxic if ingested. 

6. Often confused as one, the true hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) and grape hyacinths are different plants belonging to different genera, Hyacinthus and Muscari, respectively. 

Research and Findings

Although the hyacinth plant is considered toxic if ingested, it is also believed to have certain medicinal properties like anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and more. Take a look at what this credible research portal has to say about the plant. 

Research summary box 1  Study year: 2021  Sample type: Balb/C female mice, two human epithelial breast cancer cell lines and H. orientalis extracts.  Aim: To analyse the immunomodulatory and anti-cancer effects of Hyacinthus orientalis.  Key findings: It was concluded that the H. orinetalis has anti-cancer properties by inducing apoptosis (programmed cell death).  The presence of phytochemical compounds in the plant is responsible for such properties.  Source:National Center of Biotechnology Information

Note

A plant extract having anti-cancer properties does not make it the sole treatment of the disease. The medical research has a detailed multi-facet treatment for cancer that is very different for the type and stage of cancer. 

Do not rely on information without consulting your physician.

Wrapping Up 

The hyacinthus orientalis plant is not just a seasonal bloom; it carries with its sweet fragrance symbolism and meaning that is associated with a rich history. Starting from the mythology of the Greeks to the modern garden, the hyacinth flower has not lost its relevance even after it has travelled the course of centuries. 

Growing these vibrant blooms is easy and hassle-free, allowing beginners to enjoy this rewarding process. 

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