Hyacinths Provide a Sweet Fragrance in the Garden

The most fragrant of the spring bulbs are the hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis). Hyacinths are native to Greece and Turkey. When flowering, hyacinths have the sweet fragrance of lilacs and are covered with many waxy small bell-shaped blossoms called florets.


Like crocus and tulips, hyacinths come in a variety of colors: yellows, oranges, reds, pinks, and blues. I am hesitant to call hyacinths effective bulbs for naturalizing.

Unlike the naturalizing crocus and daffodils, which will increase in their growing areas, hyacinths left undisturbed will come up yearly in the same place without any expansion of their growing area. These returning bulbs often times have smaller stalks of florets with flowers reverting too common blues and whites. Fortunately, these smaller flowering hyacinths still produce a very fragrant flower, which will perfume the garden airs.

Holland and the United Kingdom are the largest growers of hyacinth bulbs, which often times are purchased to be forced to bloom inside. Whether selected to be a forced blooming indoor bulb or used as a cut flower, the perfume fragrance of the hyacinth can overwhelm a small room and the fragrance will persist for several days even when the flowers have been removed.
Hyacinth Fantasy Mix

Hyacinth Delft Blue

Jan Bos Hyacinth 10 Bulbs - FRAGRANT

Consider some of the following varieties of Hyacinths for your garden