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Planting & care

Guide

How to grow Hyacinths

Hyacinths are among the most sweetly scented of the spring flowers, and they’re available in more colours than you would ever have believed. They’re easy and reliable outdoor plants and can be grown indoors in good light. As bedding plants, they make a great edging or plant for walkways and entrances as well as containers and mixed borders. Did you know that you can get yellow, red, and even near-black Hyacinths? You can also get rare varieties with double florets.

Hyacinth planting basics

The Dutch growers who got your Hyacinth bulbs to peak flowering size have taken care to give you bulbs that are ready to produce their best flowers. All they need from you is a sunny or lightly shaded position and well-drained soil. If you have a heavy soil or soil with a higher clay content, improve it first with lots of well-rotted compost or choose a freely draining potting medium.

How to plant Hyacinth bulbs

  • Hyacinths are fully hardy and prefer to be outdoors throughout winter. They should be planted between September and November for best results. If you’re not ready to plant them as soon as you receive them, you can store them in a cool, dry place which is out of reach of squirrels and mice. They may start to deteriorate from December onwards so it is best to get them planted before then - they won’t store until the following year.
  • Hyacinth bulbs can be planted directly outside in borders or patio containers.
  • If you have a heavy soil or soil with a high clay content, it is a good idea to incorporate plenty of compost and some grit or sand prior to planting to aid drainage.
  • If planting in containers, we recommend using peat-free multipurpose compost.
  • Choose a position in full sun or partial/dappled shade.
  • Hyacinth bulbs will naturally be a purplish colour. Plant the bulbs around 10-15cm deep with the pointed side facing upwards.
  • Space the bulbs around 5-10cm apart from each other.
  • Cover back over with soil/compost. If the soil is very dry, it’s a good idea to water them in after planting to settle them. Hyacinths will not require any further watering through winter unless you have very mild winters and the soil becomes dry. They will only require water in spring if it is warm and the soil is dry.

Hyacinth varieties we think you'll like

Hyacinth varieties we think you'll like

Hyacinth growing guide

How to grow hyacinths

Plant in autumn

Plant hyacinth bulbs from September to December. If needed, store them somewhere cool and dry, away from mice, but plant before they begin to deteriorate.

Choose a well-drained spot
Choose a well-drained spot

Choose full sun or partial shade. Improve heavy soil with organic matter and horticultural grit. For containers, use peat-free multipurpose compost with good drainage.

Plant the bulbs
Plant the bulbs

Wearing gloves, plant bulbs pointed side upwards, 10–15cm deep and around 10cm apart. Their naturally purplish outer skin is perfectly normal.

Water when needed
Water when needed

Water after planting if the soil is dry. Border-grown hyacinths rarely need further watering during winter, but keep containers lightly moist and never waterlogged.

Care after flowering

Remove faded flowers, but allow the foliage to yellow and die back naturally. The bulbs can remain planted, although flowering may become less dense over time.

Hyacinth FAQs

Hyacinths are loved for their rich fragrance, dense flower spikes and strong spring colour, whether planted in borders, containers or grown indoors. Planting hyacinth bulbs at the right time and depth helps them establish well and flower strongly, while prepared bulbs can be used for much earlier indoor displays. Our horticultural team answers the most common questions about growing hyacinths in UK gardens, from planting and pots to flowering, aftercare and what to do with the bulbs once the flowers fade.