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Spring-Flowering Bulbs: Hyacinths

A wide range of color, an alluring scent, and easy flowering make the hyacinth an extremely popular spring-flowering bulb. Like many of the spring bulbs, the hyacinth originated in the Mediterranean region. Hyacinths were imported to bulb-crazy Holland over 400 years ago, where (like tulips) they were a hot commodity for bulb speculators in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Hyacinth bulbs produce stiff, upright plants of about 8 to 12 inches in height, although the double varieties tend to be a bit smaller. Hyacinth flowers range from blue, lavender and white to warmer colors like red, orange, pink and yellow. If you're planting the bulbs for your spring garden, hyacinths look best in clumps rather than in orderly rows. They are also perfect, beautifully scented houseplants, ideal for indoor forcing.

Planting Hyacinth Bulbs

Selecting healthy hyacinth bulbs is important, as the number of flowers or "florets" produced by the plant is dependent on the size of the flower bulb. A large hyacinth bulb can produce 60-70 florets, which is ideal for indoor forcing. Smaller bulbs are better for the garden, as few florets means they are unlikely to become top-heavy and droop or fall over on their stalks.

As always, avoid bulbs that are mushy, small, or diseased looking. If ordering by mail, purchase hyacinth bulbs from a reputable vendor such as Spring Hill Nursery or Michigan Bulb Company.

Plant the hyacinth bulbs around 5-6 inches deep with 4-6 inches of space between each bulb. Be sure to locate them in well-drained soil -- like most spring bulbs, hyacinth bulbs are susceptible to rot in overly wet soils. If you think your soil is a bit too moist or heavy, try mixing some sand or perlite into it.

It's best to choose a sunny location for your hyacinth bulbs, especially if you are planning to leave them in the ground for more than one year. Hyacinths are frequently treated as annuals; if they don't need to recover for blooming next year, feel free to plant them in a shadier area, as their flowers will last longer than in the full sun.