When Does a Hyacinth Bloom? An Introduction to the Latest Blooming Times

Hyacinths are native to southern Europe, southern Africa and the Asia region, with the Netherlands being the main place of origin. There are over 2000 horticultural varieties of hyacinth worldwide, mainly divided into two categories: “Dutch types” and “Roman types”. The former are the true varieties, and the vast majority produce only 1 flower spike per plant, with a sturdy habit and larger flowers. The latter are mostly mutated hybrids, each plant able to bear two or three flower spikes, with a delicate habit and smaller flowers; most consumers prefer to buy Dutch hyacinths.

The Origin of Hyacinths

Hyacinths are native to the Mediterranean coast of southern Europe and the Asia Minor region, and the Netherlands; today they are cultivated all over the world. Wild species grow in limestone areas of West Asia and Central Asia at altitudes above 2600 m.

The Netherlands is the main production area for hyacinths. In the 18th century, hyacinth cultivation was very popular, and more than two thousand varieties had already been recorded at that time. Beginning in the 1950s, botanical gardens and parks in various parts of China cultivated only small quantities, for flowerbed display. It was not until after the 1980s that hyacinths developed substantially across the country, being widely used in spring flower exhibitions and potted plant sales. To this day, cultivated hyacinths have begun to enter homes and public places for indoor decoration and display, and demand increases year by year. However, China is not yet able to propagate its own seed stock and still needs to introduce it from abroad.

The Habits of Hyacinths

Hyacinths by habit like sun and tolerate cold, and are suited to growing in cool, moist environments and loose, fertile sandy soil; they dislike waterlogging. They prefer warm, moist winters and cool, slightly dry summers, in full sun or semi-shade. They like fertilizer and do well in fertile, well-drained sandy loam. They can be grown in the ground, in pots, or in water. They root in autumn, new shoots emerge in early spring, they bloom in March, the fruit ripens in late May, and in early June the above-ground parts wither and the plant enters dormancy. Flower bud differentiation takes place during the dormant period, at an optimum temperature of about 25°C, and the differentiation process takes about 1 month. After flower bud differentiation and before elongation growth, there must be a low-temperature stage of about two months, and the temperature must not exceed 13°C.

During the growth of hyacinths, the roots of the bulb grow best at low temperatures of 2-6°C. The optimum temperature for bud break is 5-10°C, the optimum temperature for leaf growth is 5-12°C, and 15-18°C is most favorable during the bud-forming and blooming period. The storage temperature for bulbs is 20-28°C, with 25°C being the optimum and most ideal for flower bud differentiation. They can tolerate short periods of frost. They like a cool environment with moist air and plenty of sunshine, and are relatively cold-hardy.

The Blooming Period of Hyacinths

The blooming period of the hyacinth, counted from the opening of the first flower, is generally about two weeks. They generally bloom between March and June. Their growth cycle is: dormancy in summer, rooting in autumn and winter, sprouting in early spring, blooming in March, and the plant withering in early June.

After a hyacinth has bloomed once, cut off the withered roots and leaves, place it in a cool spot or plant it in soil, then in September plant it in the ground or in a pot again, applying a base fertilizer and top dressing to encourage the mother bulb to split and help the daughter bulbs grow larger; only when they have grown to a certain size can they bloom again. Alternatively, it can be taken out and planted again the following spring, and it can bloom once more.

The Flower Language of Hyacinths

The flower language of the hyacinth is “as long as you light the fire of life, you can share in an abundant life”. In addition, the hyacinth also carries various meanings such as victory, competition, joy, affection, happiness, deep feeling, admiration, stubbornness, life and eternal remembrance, and hyacinths of different colors each have different floral sentiments.