Hyacinthus orientalis: Fragrant and Vibrant Spring Flowers of Garden Hyacinth

Summary: Hyacinthus orientalis, commonly known as Dutch hyacinth, or garden hyacinth, is an Old World native that is cultivated globally as an early spring bloomer.

Hyacinthus orientalis: Lukas Kaffer (S.lukas), CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Hyacinthus orientalis is an Old World perennial in the asparagus family, Asparagaceae, native to western Asia.

Hyacinthus orientalis especially claims exotic homelands in Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey.

Introduced into Europe around the sixteenth century, Hyacinthus orientalis has gained worldwide popularity for cultivation in containers and in-ground gardens as a fragrant, vibrant early spring bloomer.

Hyacinthus orientalis is known commonly as common hyacinth, Dutch hyacinth and garden hyacinth.

Garden hyacinth sprouts from a cream- or light purple-colored bulb.

Foliage grows as strap-shaped, basal leaves.

The stem of Hyacinthus orientalis emerges as a spike amidst the leafy greenery.

The stiff stem is laden with sessile (Latin: sessilis, "resting on the surface, sitting") flowers that unfurl directly from the stem rather than attach to the stem by way of a pedicel (Latin: pediculus, "footstalk, little foot"), or stalk.

Flowers open with tubular grace, ending in six recurving petals. The fragrant, showy flowers present a pleasing palette of colors, including various shades of blue, pink, purple, red, white or yellow.

Spent flowers should be removed immediately to discourage seed production.

In the wild, seed dispersal may be accomplished through myrmecochory (Ancient Greek: μύρμηξ, múrmēks, “ant”), that is, by way of ants. In this symbiotic ant-plant relationship, ants feed elaiosome (Ancient Greek: ἔλαιον, élaion, “olive oil” + σόμα, sóma, “body”), a fleshy, white structure attached to the black seeds, to their larvae and assign the seeds to a waste disposal area where the seeds germinate.

Garden hyacinth's bulb contains oxalic acid, which provokes skin irritations and toxic, possibly fatal, reactions such as diarrhea and vomiting in humans.

Wearing gloves and washing hands afterward are urged for handling garden hyacinth's bulbs.

Mammals and pets may become seriously ill from unknowingly consuming hyacinth bulbs, which they normally avoid.

The Royal Horticultural Society, founded in London, England, in 1804, has bestowed its prestigious Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which recognizes excellence in garden performance, upon 21 cultivars of Hyacinthus orientalis.

In 1993, seven cultivars received the award: ‘Anna Marie,’ ‘Blue Jacket,’ ‘City of Haarlem,’ ‘Delft Blue,’ ‘Gipsy Queen,’ ‘L’Innocence’ and ‘Ostara'.

In 2008, eight cultivars were recognized: ‘Blue Festival,’ ‘Hollyhock,’ ‘Jan Bos,’ ‘Miss Saigon,’ ‘Paul Hermann,’ ‘Pink Festival,’ ‘White Festival’ and ‘Yellow Queen.'

In 2012, six cultivars were honored: ‘Aida,’ ‘Chicago,’ ‘Dynasty,’ ‘Fairy White,’ ‘Pink Angel’ and ‘Royal Navy.’

Wild hyacinths grace the north side of the box elder tree (Acer negundo) that arches across the curving, gravel driveway onto my yard. Twelve spikes soften spring's green vivacity with deep, gentle blues. One spike bears 10 flowers while eight flowers apiece adorn 10 spikes. The shortest spike proudly lifts up three budding trumpets.

garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), gouache on vellum by Hamburg painter Hans-Simon Holtzbecker; Gottorfer Codex (1649-1659): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Hyacinthus orientalis: Lukas Kaffer (S.lukas), CC BY SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons @ http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hyacinthus_orientalis_(S.lukas).JPG

garden hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis), gouache on vellum by Hamburg painter Hans-Simon Holtzbecker; Gottorfer Codex (1649-1659): Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons @ https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gc20_hyacinthos_orientalis.jpg

For further information:

Chapman, Baylor. The Plant Recipe Book. New York NY: Artisan, 2014.

Marriner, Derdriu. "Early Spring Colors in the Yard: Blue, Lavender, Purple, Yellow." Wizzley > Plants & Gardening > Plants. April 13, 2014.
Available @ https://wizzley.com/early-spring-colors-in-the-yard-blue-lavender-purple-yellow/