Hyacinthus orientalis (Hyacinth) – White Scented Christmas Bulb Display (5 Plants in a Christmas Bowl)

This Christmas bowl of white hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) fills a room with the classic, intensely sweet hyacinth scent. Five prepared bulbs are growing together in the bowl and arrive ready to display, so there is nothing to plant.

Each bulb sends up a single sturdy stem with a dense spike of white flowers above bright green, strap-like leaves. It suits a windowsill, a mantelpiece or a festive table centrepiece, and it makes a thoughtful gift for plant lovers and gardeners.

Keep the bowl in a bright, cool spot indoors, ideally between 10 and 18°C, as a warm room makes the stems flop and shortens the display. Water sparingly at the base and keep the compost just moist, never waterlogged. Hyacinth bulbs can irritate the skin and are not to be eaten, and this applies to pets as well as people, so wear gloves when handling them.

Once flowering has finished, the bulbs can be planted out in the garden. They are hardy there and will flower again in spring, though the spikes come looser and smaller than in the first forced year. Keep the bowl indoors until the frosts have passed.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Hyacinth, Common Hyacinth, Dutch Hyacinth
• Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis
• Growth Habit: Upright, single sturdy stem with a dense flower spike
• Perfect For: Windowsills, indoor displays, festive table arrangements, gifts
• Foliage: Bright green, strap-like leaves
• Flowering Time: December to April when forced indoors
• Flower Colour: White
• Planting Position: Bright, cool spot indoors. Plant out in the garden after flowering.
• Hardiness: Hardy in the garden once flowering has finished. Keep the forced bulbs indoors until the frosts have passed.
• Fragrance: Intensely sweet, classic hyacinth scent
• Seasonal Interest: Winter to spring
• Type: Prepared bulbs, forced for indoor winter flowering