Hyacinthus orientalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- hy-ah-SIN-thus or-ee-en-TAH-liss
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Hyacinth is a hardy, perennial, bulbous herb with basal, narrowly strap-shaped leaves and fragrant spring flowers that rise on an erect stalk. It grows easily in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. It does tolerate summer drought and some light shade. Soils should be kept moist (particularly if soils are dry) immediately after planting to encourage root growth but taper off moisture after bloom as bulbs head toward dormancy. Promptly remove spent flower spikes so plants do not need to expend energy on seed production. Bulbs are commonly grown in containers, especially when forced for indoor winter bloom.
It can be grown in USDA zone 4 with mulch, but does well in higher zones without mulch.
The plant blooms in mid spring and each bulb usually produces only one flower scape. The flowers are pungently sweet and marketed as a natural plant deodorizer for the home kitchen or bathroom, however, the perfume scent can be troublesome for asthmatics. Some regard it as a patriotic plant with "red, white & blue" colors.
It is often used as a forced interior pot plant or in outdoor landscapes in massing or edging beds. If grown as a perennial outdoors, it can lead to smaller- sized, widely-spaced flowers each successive year. A large number of hybrid cultivars are available in commerce under this species name in flower colors including various shades of blue, purple, pink, red and white.
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Bulb rot may occur in poorly drained soils. Wear gloves when planting bulbs to avoid possible allergic skin reactions.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Backyard Respite Landscape Reynolda Palm House and Gardens Davidson County Demo Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Jacket'
‘Blue Jacket’ produces navy blue flowers. - 'Woodstock'
‘Woodstock’ produces maroon/burgundy-purple flowers.
- 'Blue Jacket'
- 'Blue Jacket', 'Woodstock'
- Tags:






- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Blue Jacket'
‘Blue Jacket’ produces navy blue flowers. - 'Woodstock'
‘Woodstock’ produces maroon/burgundy-purple flowers.
- 'Blue Jacket'
- 'Blue Jacket', 'Woodstock'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Hyacinthus
- Species:
- orientalis
- Family:
- Hyacinthaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eurasia, Mediterranean, Southern Turkey
- Wildlife Value:
- attracts polinators
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- drought
- Bulb Storage:
- Mulch during the winter in zone 4.
- Edibility:
- Toxic to humans
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4b, 4a, 5a, 5b, 6b, 6a, 7b, 7a, 8a, 8b
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-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- After flowering, the seed capsules ripen. Capsules are fleshy, spherical structures that dry and split into three parts, each containing seeds. Ants find the seeds and take them into their burrows for food. There the seeds can germinate.
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Pink
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Funnel
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flowers on a single erect stalk, each 6-parted, funnel-shaped, variously colored, incredibly fragrant. A many-flowered, scapose raceme, cylindrical, held above the leaves; bracts small. 15-40, white, blue or pink, tubular-campanulate, heavily scented, waxy; perianth lobes 6, spreading-reflexed. Hyacinthus orientalis flowers in mid-spring (April/May) for 2-3 weeks.
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-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Smooth
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Basal leaves 6 to 14 inches long and 0.25 to 4 inches wide. Bright green, thick, and fleshy; margins upturned, creating keel midrib below. 4-6 leaves per plant.
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-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Small Space
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Drought
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Causes minor skin irritation lasting a few minutes. Also causes stomach cramps, salivation, vomiting, and diarrhea. Dermatitis after contact with cell sap. Possible nasal irritation and asthma in susceptible persons. Bulbs contain the highest amount of toxin
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids such as lycorine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems