Middle Eastern Marvels - Garden Plants – Hyacinth

Name – Hyacinths were originally cultivated in Europe by the ancient Greeks and the Romans although they originate in Turkey. They take their name from the Greek Hyakinthos, who was a handsome young man from Greek mythology. The earliest known hyacinth, H. orientalis, was a rather simple species, only valued for its scent, and nothing like the complex and highly bred flower that we are familiar with today. Wild hyacinth seed comes onto the market occasionally through specialist suppliers and is well worth trying in the right position.

Description – Hyacinth exhibits dense spikes of highly-fragrant, tubular flowers on thick stems very early in the year, with the earliest and hardest flowers being forced in the middle of winter while the naturally occurring species will tend to emerge a little later.

Origin – Hyacinths perform best in an open, sunny or partially-shaded position with fertile, well-draining soil. When selecting bulbs, make sure they are not damaged or drying out as dry bulbs will not flower in their first year (if at all) and ensure you plant them out fairly early in the autumn, well before the ground freezes, in order to ensure proper root development which is essential for good flowering in spring. Set the bulbs six to eight inches deep and about six inches apart. You can sprinkle a small amount of bulb fertilizer in the hole during planting to encourage bigger blooms. More importantly, after flowering, allow the plants to continue growing until the leaves die off, as they create the energy that is stored in the bulbs for the following year’s growth. Once the leaves and flowers have gone over completely, you can remove the dead flowers, either by snipping them off at the base, or twisting the completed faded leaves while pulling lightly.

For Decoration - For winter flowers you can force bulbs by potting them up in early autumn, then keeping them cool and damp for several weeks to ensure they develop an adequate root system development. When the shoot tips appear, move the bulbs into a temperature of 10°C and then into a warmer environment as more shoots appear, giving them as much light as possible. After forcing into bloom, remember to keep the bulbs in a cool place to finish their growth. Because hyacinth flowers are mildly toxic, it’s important to remember to wear gloves when working with them, because of this poisonous latex.

Middle Eastern Marvels hyacinth photograph by russbrady22, used under a creative commons attribution licence

 

© blueworldgardener.co.uk