Hyacinthus orientalis
| Hyacinthus orientalis | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |  |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 0.3' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Hyacinthus orientalis (common name: hyacinth)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame in a light sandy soil[1]. If sown thinly, the seedlings can be left in their pots for the first year, though give them regular liquid feeds to make sure that they get sufficient nutrient. Prick out the seedlings about 3 to a pot and grow on for 1 - 2 more years before planting out into their permanent positions when they are dormant[K].
Division in the autumn. Plant the small offsets 5cm deep[1]. Larger bulbs can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up smaller bulbs and grow them on for a year in a cold frame before planting them out when dormant in late summer.
Scooping and scoring.
Cultivation: Easily grown in a well-drained sandy soil in full sun[2][3]. Prefers a moderately rich soil[1].
The dormant bulbs are fairly hardy and will withstand soil temperatures down to at least -5°c[4].
A very ornamental plant[1], there are many named varieties[3]. When grown outdoors in Britain the bulb often gradually deteriorates each year due to a lack of summer heat that is required to fully ripen the bulb[1]. Eventually they look more like a bluebell than a hyacinth[K].
Bulbs should be planted out 7cm deep in October[1].
The flowers have a strong sweet fragrance that can fill the air for a considerable distance[5].
Range: W. Asia. Naturalized in Europe around the Mediterranean.
Habitat: Among rocks, up to 2000 metres in Turkey[6]
Usage: An essential oil obtained from the flowers is used in perfumery[7][8]. 1kg of the oil is obtained from 6,000kg of flowers[9].
A blue dye is obtained from the flowers[10].
Pollinators: Bees
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Poisonous, the sap can cause dermatitis[11]. The toxins are concentrated in the bulb[3].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Bulbs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Matthews, Victoria. The New Plantsman Volume 1. Royal Horticultural Society, 1994.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Davis, Peter. Flora of Turkey. Edinburgh University Press, 1965.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Hill, Albert. Economic Botany. The Maple Press, 1952.
- ↑ Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.
- ↑ Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.