Hyacinths for Pollinator Gardens
Native to Greece, Asia Minor, and the Mediterranean, the hyacinths were
introduced to parts of Europe.
They did escape cultivation in some locations. These plants do best in zones four through six. These bulbs are a wonderful choice for pollinator gardens.
The glossy, green, linear leaves emerge with the flowers. The foliage is up to 15 inches long and up to an inch across. This resembles grass.
Many hybrids of hyacinths are readily available with the flower color varying widely. Hyacinths typically bloom in early spring, often in April for about twelve days. However, the bloom time can vary slightly according to the location and the type being grown.
The bloom time, the shape of the blossoms, and their appearance can vary according to the variety. The short flower stalks are terminal, and are up to 1ΒΌ feet in height.
These blossoms are a good source of pollen and a fairly good source of nectar. The richly scented blooms are large. The species will typically have blue blossoms, but there are varieties with pink or white flowers as well as yellow or red.
There are two to fifteen individual blooms on each flower spike. These form a cluster. Each bulb can have multiple flowering stems. Each individual bloom is about an inch in length.
The flower spikes are densely covered with the small, sweetly scented blooms. These are crowded together so that they form a ball-like flower head. The long, somewhat reflexed petals are tubular.
Hyacinth bulbs are very large. Buy the largest ones you can afford because the larger sized bulbs will bear the largest flower stems. These blooms are very showy.
Some hyacinth bulbs bear double blooms. However, the best types for pollinator gardens are hyacinths with single type flowers.
Growing Hyacinths
Hyacinths can be grown from offsets and seeds. This is by far the most widely grown species of hyacinth in cultivation. It has the largest blooms of all.
In very cold climates the hyacinths can be dug in the fall and stored in a dry cool place until early spring when they can be planted. These are hardy as far north as New England.
Hyacinths should be planted outdoors in October or so. Plant these five to six inches deep and nine inches apart. It is best to mulch the bulbs very heavily in the North.
These plants prefer a rich soil. Fertilizer helps to keep these bulbs coming back year after year. They will multiply each year if they are left undisturbed. Hyacinths are most suited to part shade.
introduced to parts of Europe.
They did escape cultivation in some locations. These plants do best in zones four through six. These bulbs are a wonderful choice for pollinator gardens.
The glossy, green, linear leaves emerge with the flowers. The foliage is up to 15 inches long and up to an inch across. This resembles grass.
Many hybrids of hyacinths are readily available with the flower color varying widely. Hyacinths typically bloom in early spring, often in April for about twelve days. However, the bloom time can vary slightly according to the location and the type being grown.
The bloom time, the shape of the blossoms, and their appearance can vary according to the variety. The short flower stalks are terminal, and are up to 1ΒΌ feet in height.
These blossoms are a good source of pollen and a fairly good source of nectar. The richly scented blooms are large. The species will typically have blue blossoms, but there are varieties with pink or white flowers as well as yellow or red.
There are two to fifteen individual blooms on each flower spike. These form a cluster. Each bulb can have multiple flowering stems. Each individual bloom is about an inch in length.
The flower spikes are densely covered with the small, sweetly scented blooms. These are crowded together so that they form a ball-like flower head. The long, somewhat reflexed petals are tubular.
Hyacinth bulbs are very large. Buy the largest ones you can afford because the larger sized bulbs will bear the largest flower stems. These blooms are very showy.
Some hyacinth bulbs bear double blooms. However, the best types for pollinator gardens are hyacinths with single type flowers.
Growing Hyacinths
Hyacinths can be grown from offsets and seeds. This is by far the most widely grown species of hyacinth in cultivation. It has the largest blooms of all.
In very cold climates the hyacinths can be dug in the fall and stored in a dry cool place until early spring when they can be planted. These are hardy as far north as New England.
Hyacinths should be planted outdoors in October or so. Plant these five to six inches deep and nine inches apart. It is best to mulch the bulbs very heavily in the North.
These plants prefer a rich soil. Fertilizer helps to keep these bulbs coming back year after year. They will multiply each year if they are left undisturbed. Hyacinths are most suited to part shade.
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