Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Gipsy Queen’ (Dutch Hyacinth)

With its soft coral color, Hyacinth ‘Gipsy Queen’ brings a cheerful sight to the dull days of late winter! Featuring flowered spikes densely covered with starry, pale salmon florets, it is delightfully fragrant. Floating atop erect, lance-shaped bright green leaves, this beauty blooms for 2-3 weeks in mid-spring. Plant it where you will be able to enjoy its perfume daily: near a doorway, along a path, near your patio or deck!

• Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Rising up to 8-12 inches tall (20-30 cm), this hyacinth will naturalize in the right spot. But it should be noted that flowering might decrease in quality over time.
• Thrives in moderately fertile, well-drained soils in full sun or part shade. Best flowering occurs with at least 6 hours of direct sun per day. In partial shade, they will do well the first year, but they will bloom less and less in the following years.
• Keep the soil moist during the growing season. Do not plant your hyacinth in waterlogged soil (it is susceptible to rot).
• Hyacinths are perfect for beds and borders, underplanting shrubs and roses, patio containers, or window boxes. Plant them close to paths, walkways, or doors, so you can enjoy their heady perfume. For the best visual impact, plant your hyacinths in groups of 5-9 bulbs.
• Hyacinths also make long-lasting cut flowers that will perfume an entire room.
• To be planted in the fall, from September to November, depending on your geographic location. Basically, any time after your first fall frost and before the ground freezes.
• No serious pest or disease issues. Keep an eye out for slugs or squirrels.
• Propagate by removing offsets when dormant in summer.
• Encourage your hyacinth to bloom for more than one year by cutting off the flower spikes as soon as the flowers fade. Do not remove the foliage until it withers and dies off. During this period, the hyacinth stores energy in the bulb for next year’s bloom. Cutting off the foliage before it has died back naturally may prevent the bulbs from storing enough energy. As a result, your hyacinths may not bloom next spring. 
• Hyacinths contain oxalic acid — a substance that makes them deer or rodent-resistant. Ingestion may cause severe discomfort. They are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses.
• Handling hyacinth bulbs can also cause mild skin irritation. Protective gloves are recommended. 
   

Symbols of peace, commitment, and beauty, hyacinths are wonderfully fragrant, spring-flower bulbs boasting colorful flower spikes packed with a multitude of florets. They have been developed from Hyacinthus orientalis, a species named in 1562, and which originates in central and southern Turkey, North Western Syria, and Lebanon. Introduced to Europe during the 16th century, hyacinth’s popularity sparked Dutch bulb growers to breed more than 2,000 cultivars by the 18th century. Treasured by gardeners for their heavenly fragrance, Hyacinths are extraordinarily rewarding every spring with their bright cheery blossoms warming our souls from the previous winter months.