If you’ve ever seen a field of hyacinth bulbs at their peak, you know they are one of the most beautiful flowers. Their star-shaped colors shout spring and range in every shade from white to lavender to blue to pink. They can reach around 12-18 inches in height, making them perfect for flower beds, inside or outside pots, and even the perfect cut flowers.
If you’re looking to plant some of these delicate bulbs, you may wonder – Do hyacinth bulbs multiply? It’s a good question when purchasing bulbs. Luckily, the answer is yes, they do multiply, but not the first year. Since they are perennial, they’ll come back each year, and when they do, you could be surprised to find more than what you planted the year before.
Pink Blue and White Hyacinths
Why plant hyacinth
The number one reason to plant hyacinths is, of course, their beauty, but there are other reasons as well
- beauty
- easy to plant
- perennials
- versatile
Easy to plant
We all love a flower that is easy to plant and take care of, and hyacinths are. They are in the Asparagaceae or asparagus family and grow best in zones 4-8 which makes them a cold weather plant. They do best with consistent temperatures in the 30s. You’ll want to plant around 6-8 weeks before the threat of frost with a soil temperature of around 60 degrees F.
If you had a mild winter or didn’t receive many cold days, you can still plant your bulbs – place the bulbs in a brown paper bag and place them in the refrigerator for 6 to 10 weeks. This will prepare the bulbs for planting when weather conditions allow or when the soil reaches around 60 degrees F.
How to plant hyacinth bulbs
When looking for a place to plant these bulbs, they like the full or partial sun in well-drained soil. If you plant them in an area that doesn’t drain, you may find your bulbs will rot. The soil should be moderately fertile.
- Using a fork or mini tiller, loosen the soil in rows to 12-16 inches in depth.
- Fill with fertilizer
- Dig holes 4 inches deep and 3 – 4 inches apart
- place bulbs
- Cover with mulch
- water
Perennials
They are perennial like camellias, so once you have planted hyacinth bulbs and they’ve received optimal temperatures, you should see them pop their heads out of the soil in the spring, around March to April. Although they are perennial, each bulb will only last for 3 to 4 years.
Versatile
These lovely flowers are great in a garden bed, growing to a height of 8 to 12 inches, but they also do well inside and in pots! You can even grow them in water. Just fill a vase with enough to cover the bulb’s roots. Place your vase in a dark area until the roots develop.
Do Hyacinth Multiply?
Yes, hyacinths multiply over time. Although it may take a few years, but when taken care of properly and with the right soil conditions, drainage, and sunlight, they produce offsets that develop around the base of the parent bulb. These offsets will bloom just once in the late spring, but each bloom can give up to four weeks of beauty. Each bulb produces up to six leaves and gives 1-3 spikes making a spectacular garden display.
If necessary, you can divide the bulbs any time after the foliage dies back and before the ground freezes. In doing so, you can add to their beauty – add extra bulbs to pots, along fences, or as a focal point to your home’s walkway.
Even though they are perennial, the bulb will die out within 3 to 4 years.
How to divide bulbs
Dividing hyacinth bulbs is a simple process that can be done in the fall after the foliage has died back.
- Using a fork or spade, carefully dig up the hyacinth bulbs
- Separate smaller bulbs from the main bulb
- Discard bulbs that show signs of disease or are mushy (soft or mushy bulbs could be rotten).
- Replant the bulbs at a depth 3 times the height of the bulb and at least 6 inches apart in an area that gets sunlight and drains well.
- Water bulbs
- Mulch the bulbs with a layer of organic material, such as leaves or straw, to help protect them from freezing temperatures and to conserve moisture.
Divide hyacinth bulbs every few years to ensure beautiful blooms year after year.
Pests
Hyacinth plants and bulbs can be attractive to a variety of insects, many of that you want to gone.
Aphids
Aphids are a gardener’s nightmare. They feed on roses and hyacinths and suck the life out of them, doing damage to both foliage and flowers. The easiest way to get rid of them naturally is to take a garden hose and place it on full power, spray the aphids, and they will fall off the leaves.
You can also use a few drops of Dove soap in a bucket. Simply wipe the leaves, and the aphids should fall off.
Aphids attacking a plant
Spider Mites
Like a vampire, spider mites will pierce the leaves and suck the sap out. You will know you have an infestation if you notice small yellow or brown speckles on the foliage. If left untreated, the leaves will turn brown and fall off.
You can use insecticidal soap or neem oil to control the infestation.
Bulb Flies
Hyacinth bulbs are the perfect place for a bulb fly to lay eggs because the larvae feed off it causing the plant’s growth to be stunted or wilted and eventually killing the plant.
The best way to prevent Bulb Flies from attacking your hyacinth is to make sure your yard is clean from debris. This simple step will make the hyacinth less inviting, and they’ll look elsewhere for their meal.
If you find you already have an infestation, you can use an insecticide.
Thrips
When the hyacinth begins to bloom, these tiny insects feed on the bulb, causing the buds to become deformed and discolored.
You can prevent thrips by
- insecticides
- sticky traps
- natural predators like lacewings and ladybugs
It’s not only insects that are potential enemies of Hyacinth plants. Other wildlife, such as squirrels, skunks, and chipmunks, enjoy munching on their bulbs.
Not all insects seek and destroy this beautiful flower. Both both bees and butterflies are attracted to its sweet nectar.
Questions
Do hyacinth bulbs multiply?
Yes, if the conditions are right, they will produce offsets from the main bulb.
Are hyacinth bulbs perennials?
Yes, but each bulb will only flower three to four times.
How long do Hyacinths bloom?
A single bloom can last up to four weeks.
Do Hyacinths need sun?
Hyacinths like the full or partial sun in well-drained soil
Purple Hyacinth in a garden
Conclusion
If you choose to add Hyacinths to your garden, you’re in for a treat. They come in a variety of vibrant flowers and will multiply in a few years. Like most plants, they will attract some insects that you want out of your garden, but with preventative measures, you will have a beautiful garden that you can sit back and enjoy.