Hyacinthus orientalis (Hyacinth) – Pre-Planted Fragrant Blue Bulbs (5 Plants in a Christmas Bowl)

Blue hyacinths are one of the best-loved scented bulbs for Christmas, and this ready planted Christmas bowl holds five Hyacinthus orientalis bulbs, already growing together and waiting to flower.

Each hyacinth sends up a dense, conical spike of deep violet-blue flowers with a rich, sweet scent that fills a room, above glossy, strap-like green leaves. The bulbs have been prepared for indoor flowering, so they bloom through winter and into early spring.

The five plants arrive growing in the bowl, so there is nothing to plant. Stand it on a windowsill, mantlepiece or table in a cool, bright room, out of direct heat, and keep the compost moist but never waterlogged. A warm room makes the stems flop and shortens the display, so cooler is better. It also makes a ready-to-give Christmas gift.

Hyacinth bulbs can irritate the skin and should not be eaten, so wear gloves when handling them. Once flowering has finished, the bulbs can be planted out in the garden after the frosts have passed. They are hardy outdoors and will flower again in spring, though the spikes come looser and smaller than in the first forced year.

Cultural Information

• Common Name: Hyacinth
• Botanical Name: Hyacinthus orientalis
• Growth Habit: Upright, single-stemmed with a dense, conical flower spike
• Perfect For: Christmas gifts, windowsills, mantlepieces and tabletop displays
• Foliage: Strap-like, glossy mid-green leaves
• Flowering Time: Winter to early spring when forced indoors
• Flower Colour: Blue
• Planting Position: Bright light indoors
• Hardiness: The bulb is hardy in the garden, but keep forced bulbs indoors until the frosts have passed before planting out
• Maintenance: Keep the compost moist but not waterlogged and keep in a cool, bright room
• Fragrance: Strongly and sweetly scented
• Seasonal Interest: Winter to spring
• Type: Prepared forced bulbs