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Hyacinths. Varieties and types of hyacinths

Many gardeners look forward to the flowering of their bulbous favorites, the charming hyacinths, in early spring. After a long and dreary winter time spring hyacinths delight with their strength and beauty, warm the soul and cheer up.

Rain flower - this is how the name Hyacinthus is translated from Greek. Asia Minor and North Africa are considered the birthplace of the flower, but Holland has become a modern hyacinth paradise. Every year, the Dutch city of Haarlem sends millions of varietal bulbs of these bright plants to all countries of the world.

general description

Hyacinth is a bulbous perennial flower belonging to the Asparagus family. The bulb of the plant is large and dense, the circumference around its bottom is occupied by fleshy lower leaves. mature plant throws out 1 or 2 flowering stems that reach up to 30 cm in height.

The beautiful appearance of the flower lasts about 2 weeks. After flowering, a bud is laid on the bulb, which eventually turns into a new bulb, already giving a small inflorescence the next year. In addition to it, other smaller bulbs are formed on an adult bulb, which can also be separated and grown to maturity.

The hyacinth flower after flowering often produces fruits with three nests in which the seeds are located. The adult bulb has a spherical or wide conical shape, some varieties are dotted with numerous scales.

The leaves grow upward, they are fleshy and smooth. After the death of the peduncle, the leaves lengthen and fall to the ground. Hyacinth flowers have a pleasant aroma, they are collected in racemose inflorescences, on which there are from 12 to 35 flowers.

plant classification

Hyacinths have been grown in home gardens for over 400 years. The main classification includes 3 types of plants:

eastern, the most popular and common type of plant. On its basis, almost all known decorative varieties of rain flowers are grown. These peduncles are white, pink, blue or yellow;
Hyacinth Litvinov. It has wider leaves of a bluish tint, flowers are predominantly blue in color with large stamens;
transcaspian flower. It has 1 or 2 inflorescences with light blue flowers.

The above species are the basis for the selection of other subspecies and modifications of the plant.

Hyacinths also differ in the shape of the flowers themselves - there are simple and double flowers. According to the flowering period, the plant is divided into early, middle and late species.

According to the color of the flowers (photos of hyacinth are full of the most bright colors) stand out white, blue, pink, raspberry, lemon, lilac and apricot inflorescences. Blue, white and pink hyacinths are usually the first to bloom in the gardens of our region.

How to grow rain flowers

Hyacinths prefer sunny and windless beds. It is advisable to choose surfaces that have a slight slope for runoff. spring water. Long-term moisture retention in the place where flowers grow can destroy planted bulbs.

soil for successful cultivation plants should be permeable and fertilized with humus.

For successful cultivation And abundant flowering Soil drainage plays an important role.

Planting hyacinths

The selected area for planting bulbs is best prepared in early or mid-August, a couple of months before planting. The earth should be dug up to a depth of 30-40 cm. As a fertilizer, humus, peat or mineral fertilizers, such as superphosphate, calcium sulfate or magnesium, are applied to the soil.

Hyacinths also respond well to application. wood ash or dolomite flour. It is necessary to plant bulbs in well-moistened soil in the last days of September or early October. early boarding hyacinth can lead to premature growth of the plant and its death during frosts.

With the onset of stable cold days, a bed with planted bulbs should be covered with fallen leaves. In the spring, with the onset of warm days, the shelter is carefully removed from the garden. Under it, green sprouts of hyacinths will already be visible.

Hyacinths love planting in a hole with river sand. In prepared holes experienced growers some sand is poured, the hyacinth bulb is slightly pressed into the sand, a little more sand is added on top, and only then the soil is poured.

Such an operation should definitely be done to reduce the risk of rotting of the bottom of the bulb, improve soil drainage and protect the flower from possible infection.

Also, before planting, planting material should be treated with a solution of manganese.

flower care

Hyacinths prefer weed-free and loose soil. in spring and summer period flowers need nourishment.

In early spring, during the beginning of leaf growth, a little superphosphate should be added to the soil, at the budding stage and at the end of flowering - superphosphate together with potassium sulfate. Also, the obligatory care of the hyacinth includes the obligatory watering of the plant, which can be reduced after the flowering stage.

Bulb cleaning and storage

Most optimal time for digging onions - the end of June or the beginning of July. You should look at the leaves of the plant: if they turn yellow and lie on the soil, it's time to take a shovel and remove the bulbs from the ground. Bulbs of Dutch hyacinths are best dug up annually, otherwise they may worsen their flowering in the second year of being in the ground without transplanting.

You should carefully dig the bulb, rinse it in running water and dry it in the sun. If there are babies on it, it is better to separate them from the adult bulb before planting in the autumn. Small children should not be separated from the mother bulb.

It is best to store planting material in unopened paper bags in a dry and warm place. It is convenient to attach labels with the name and color of the variety on the packages.

Possible diseases and pests

If you grow hyacinth outdoors in a sunny place, then the plants practically do not suffer from potential diseases and pests. Flowers most often get sick in greenhouses or during improper forcing.

Hyacinths on open beds may feel bad only in the following cases:

if infected planting bulbs have already been purchased;
on the prepared bed in the spring there was a long stagnation of melt water;
diseases could be caused by fresh manure or an excess of other fertilizers;
dense planting also contributes to the spread of infection on the bulbs;
planting material was not etched in manganese before planting.

A sick plant lags behind in growth, its flower stalks are bent, the foliage quickly turns yellow and fades. Most often, the flower is affected by yellow bacterial rot, which quickly turns the bulb into a rotten, fetid mass. Affected bulbs must be burned, and the soil where the diseased bulb was located must be treated with bleach.

Medvedka, root onion mites and flower flies are the main enemies of hyacinths. Larvae of flower flies infect the bottom of the bulb, and the bear and the tick destroy the bulb as a whole. To combat them, you should use special drugs.

Subject to all simple rules and care techniques, these wonderful flowers will decorate spring gardens for more than a year and summer cottages. Hyacinths have not only an incomparable appearance but also a magical aroma. Growing hyacinths is not a very painstaking and complicated matter, as it might seem at first. But spring gardens, decorated with hyacinths, will sparkle with new colors and give flower growers a wonderful mood and bright emotions!

photo of hyacinth

Rare primroses can be compared in beauty and originality with perennial flowers hyacinths - these "curly" inflorescences on strong, although not tall peduncles are good both for individual forcing and in groups. Most plants can envy the number of legends about the hyacinth flower, because this culture was named after the son of the king of Sparta, and who, if not the ancient Greeks, were famous for writing the most beautiful myths! You will receive a description of the flowers of hyacinths of the most revered varieties, as well as detailed recommendations for their cultivation in this material.

The legend of the hyacinth and what the flower looks like (with photo)

Already in ancient times, people admired the porcelain hyacinth inflorescences, made legends about it. Translated from Greek, "hyacinth" means "flower of the rain." The Greeks considered it also a flower of sorrow in memory of Hyacinth. The young son of the Spartan king Hyacinth overshadowed the beauty and dexterity of the Olympic gods. The young man was patronized by Apollo and Zephyr - the god of the south wind. They often descended from Mount Olympus to the beautiful young man and spent time with him, having fun hunting or sports. Once Apollo and Hyacinth began to throw the discus. Higher and higher, a bronze shell flew up, but it was impossible to determine the winner - Hyacinth was in no way inferior to God. With the last of his strength, Apollo threw the disk under the very clouds. Zephyr, fearing the defeat of his friend, blew so hard that the disk changed direction of flight and unexpectedly hit Hyacinth in the face. The wound was fatal. The death of the young man greatly saddened Apollo, and he turned the drops of his blood into beautiful flowers. In ancient Greece, there was even a cult of Hyacinth, who later
crowded by the cult of Apollo. Hyacinth was considered a symbol of dying and resurgent nature.

To start general characteristics what a hyacinth flower looks like - a perennial corm plant of the lily family. Fragrant flowers resemble bells in shape with six bent petals. They are collected in a racemose inflorescence, in which there can be from 12 to 45 flowers. There are varieties with double flowers.

As you can see in the photo of flowers, hyacinths come in a wide variety of colors - blue, lilac, pink, red, white, yellow and orange:

The peduncle is leafless, erect, 15 to 45 cm high. Broad-linear leaves 25-30 cm long are collected in a basal rosette. The spherical bulb consists of 15-20 succulent storage scales, tightly adjacent to each other. They are located on a shortened stem - the bottom. Outside, the bulb is covered with dry covering scales. There is a certain relationship between the color of flowers and bulbs. Thus, varieties with blue, blue and purple flowers usually have bulbs with purple outer scales. White-flowered hyacinths have bulbs with light gray integumentary scales, while red-flowered hyacinths have dark cherry ones. Plants with yellow flowers have grayish-cream bulbs, and with pink - lilac.

The most widespread are the Dutch hybrids of hyacinth orientalis. They are characterized by dense inflorescences of various colors - from white to intense purple. Peduncle 25-30 cm high. Suitable for group plantings in flower beds or in containers.

Dutch hybrids are distinguished by color, as well as flowering time.

There is also a group of Roman hyacinths. They have smaller and loosely sitting on a short peduncle (15 cm high) white, pink or blue flowers. Mainly used for forcing.

Many-flowered hyacinths throw out several peduncles, the flowers are loosely arranged and have a white, pink or blue color. They are suitable for forcing and growing outdoors. Multi-flowered hyacinths, like Roman hyacinths, bloom earlier than Dutch hybrids.

The last group is miniature hyacinths, or cintells. Represented by miniature (12-15 cm high) forms of popular varieties of Dutch hybrids, such as Delft Blue, Jan Bos, Lady Derby, City of Harlem, Lord Balfour.

Popular varieties of blue and lilac hyacinths

Blue varieties of hyacinths:

"Bismarck". The flowers are pale purple with a darker longitudinal stripe, large - up to 4 cm in diameter, on long (up to 2.5 cm) pedicels. The inflorescence is broadly conical, 12 cm high and 9 cm in diameter. The inflorescence has 20-25 flowers. This one of the most popular varieties of hyacinths has a cetonos up to 25 cm tall. One of the best varieties for open ground. Early flowering. Suitable for early forcing.

Delft Blue. The flowers are blue, large - up to 4 cm in diameter. The inflorescence is dense, wide, 10-12 cm high and up to 9 cm in diameter. There are 25-37 flowers in the inflorescence. The height of the peduncle of this variety of hyacinths is up to 25 cm. It is recommended for gardening, cutting, forcing.

"Ostara". The flowers are blue with a barely noticeable darker stripe. The height of the peduncle is 20-24 cm. The inflorescence is dense, 12 cm high and 5 cm in diameter. An early flowering universal variety.

Look at the photo, what blue hyacinths look like:

Lilac varieties of hyacinths:

"Amethyst". The flowers are lilac, more intensely colored along the edges, large, up to 4 cm in diameter. The inflorescence is dense up to 15 cm high and up to 8 cm in diameter, consists of 25-30 flowers. The height of the peduncle is up to 24 cm. Mid-late. Very good for ground planting and cutting, can be used for medium forcing.

"Lord Balfour". The flowers are lilac with a dark lilac clearly defined longitudinal stripe, along the edges of the flowers have a darker color. Flowers up to 4 cm in diameter. Cylindrical inflorescence 12 cm high and up to 7 cm in diameter, consists of 20 flowers. Peduncle up to 24 cm high. Early flowering. In the group of lilac varieties is considered the best. Suitable for open ground, cutting and early forcing.

White and pink varieties of hyacinth flowers (with photo)

White varieties of hyacinths:

"Innosance". The flowers are snow-white with a diameter of up to 4 cm, the petals are open, wide. The inflorescence consists of 20-25 flowers, cylindrical, up to 12 cm high and up to 7 cm in diameter. Peduncle up to 25 cm tall. Early flowering. One of the most popular universal varieties: used for open ground, early forcing and cutting.

"Carnegie". The flowers are white, up to 4 cm in diameter, collected in a dense cylindrical inflorescence, 10 cm high and 5 cm in diameter. The number of flowers in the inflorescence is 20-25. The height of the peduncle is up to 22 cm. Medium blooming. One of the best varieties for outdoor cultivation, cutting and forcing.

Here you can see photos of white hyacinths, which are distinguished by their special beauty:

Pink varieties of hyacinths:

"Anna Marie". The flowers are pink with a darker longitudinal stripe. The inflorescence consists of 30-35 flowers. Peduncle height up to 25 cm. Early flowering. This pink color ok hyacinth is recommended for flower decoration in the ground and early forcing.

"Lady Derby". The flowers are light pink, matte, with a darker stripe, 3-4 cm in diameter.

Pay attention to the photo - this pink hyacinth has 23-25 flowers in the inflorescence, cylindrical in shape:

Plant height 11 cm and a diameter of 5 cm. Peduncle up to 22 cm high. Medium flowering period. Used for open ground, cutting and forcing.

"Pink Pearl". The flowers are intense pink with a darker longitudinal stripe. The inflorescence consists of 20-22 flowers. Peduncle up to 23 cm high. Mid-early flowering period. Used in landscaping, for cutting and early forcing.

Red, yellow and orange varieties of hyacinths

Red varieties of hyacinths:

"La Victoire". Flowers raspberry-pink, glossy. The height of the flower arrow is up to 25 cm. Mid-early. Recommended for early forcing, ground planting and cutting.

Jan Bos. Flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, bright magenta-red color, lighter at the edges, with a whitish throat. In inflorescence 25-30 flowers. It is dense, small, round-conical, up to 10 cm high and up to 5.5 cm in diameter. Peduncle 16-18 cm high. Early flowering. The appearance of a second inflorescence is characteristic, which increases the duration of flowering. Very good for early forcing.

Yellow and orange varieties of hyacinths:

Gypsy Queen. The flowers are orange, collected in a dense inflorescence (of 20-25 flowers) of a cylindrical shape. Peduncle up to 22 cm. Medium blooming. Used for outdoor cultivation and forcing.

City of Harlem. The flowers are light yellow, by the end of flowering - pale cream. The inflorescence is dense, cylindrical in shape, consists of 20-25 flowers. Peduncle 25-27 cm high. Medium flowering period. Recommended for flower decoration in the ground, forcing and cutting.

Below are photos of the varieties of hyacinths most often grown in household plots:

Conditions for growing hyacinths in open ground: planting and care

For planting hyacinths in open ground choose flat areas with good drainage and low standing groundwater, as even a slight stagnant water can lead to disease and death of the bulbs. These plants are early flowering plants, so they can be planted between trees and shrubs. In order to create ideal growing conditions for hyacinths in the southern regions, it is recommended to provide a little shading during the midday hours, because in bright sun the plants fade faster, and some varieties may also discolour.

For growing hyacinths in open ground, cultivated light sandy loamy soils rich in humus with a neutral reaction are most suitable. Loamy soils are improved by adding humus and sand, and acidic soils must be limed. Before planting hyacinth flowers, the soil begins to be prepared 1.5-2 months in advance. A bucket of humus, 100 g of ash, 60 g of superphosphate and 30 g of potassium sulfate are added per 1 m2, combined fertilizer (25-30 g) can be used. Then the soil is dug up to a depth of 30-40 cm.

Most flower growers grow hyacinths in beds 15-20 cm high and 1-1.2 m wide, which protects the bulbs from decay in rainy weather. Every 20 cm, transverse grooves are made with a depth of 20 cm, coarse sand with ash is poured into the bottom of them to improve drainage and protect the bottom from decay. Large bulbs are stirred after 12-15 cm to a depth of 15-20 cm and covered with a mixture of sand, ash and earth. Small bulbs and a baby are planted at a distance of 5-6 cm from each other to a depth of 5-8 cm. After planting, the ridges are mulched.

Bulbs are planted in autumn when the soil temperature reaches 8-9 °C. Such soil temperature and sufficient moisture are necessary for good rooting. In the middle lane, bulbs are usually planted in the second half of September, and in more southern regions - in October. After planting hyacinths when caring for bulbs in the open field, after 2-3 weeks, when the plants take root, you can give liquid top dressing complex mineral fertilizer (20 g/m2). With the onset of frost, plantings are covered with foliage or spruce spruce branches with a layer of 10-15 cm. When snow falls, the ridges are covered with snow. When growing hyacinth flowers, it is recommended to change the planting site annually. Hyacinths return to their original place after 5-6 years.

How to care for hyacinths: feeding and watering

And now it's time to learn how to care for hyacinth flowers during the growing season. There is nothing complicated here: you need to remove the shelter immediately after the snow melts, regularly loosen, weed, discard diseased plants, water and fertilize. Although hyacinths come from warm countries, their resistance to cold during the spring development is surprising. They come out from under the snow in early spring already with buds. They can tolerate frosts down to -10 °C. Plants are insensitive to sharp daily temperature fluctuations.

During the growing season, hyacinths are fertilized three times: the first fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizer is especially important - 15 g per bucket of water per 1 m2. It is carried out when the plants reach a height of 5-6 cm. The second top dressing is during the budding period at the rate of 20-25 g of complex fertilizer per 1 m2. Plants respond well to fertilizing with infusion bird droppings or enzymatic herbal slurry. The third time hyacinths are fed at the end of flowering - superphosphate and potassium sulfate, 20-25 g per 1 m2. Nitrogen is not included in the third top dressing. Together with superphosphate, wood ash can be added.

Since hyacinths are salt-tolerant plants, some flower growers are limited to one top dressing in the budding phase: 70-80 g of complete mineral fertilizer per 1 m2. It is better to use a nitroammofoska containing an equal amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

In the process of caring for hyacinths, do not forget to water them. In dry weather, watering is required after 2-3 days. Hyacinths are especially demanding on moisture during flowering. Watering continues after flowering - until the leaves begin to turn yellow.

Reproduction of hyacinths by bulbs (with video)

Hyacinth bulbs should be dug up annually, since a certain amount of temperatures is required to lay the next year's inflorescence. If the bulbs are left in the ground, then next year the buds will be small, green, underdeveloped. In the south of Russia, digging is carried out in mid-June, in the middle lane - in the second half of July, when the leaves begin to turn yellow and dry out, but have not yet separated from the bulb. Dug out bulbs are dried for 2-3 days in the shade in the open air. Then the earth is shaken off from them, carefully cleaned of roots, remnants of leaves and peduncles, sick and damaged are discarded. Before planting, the bulbs are stored at a temperature of 20-25 ° C.

The main method of propagation of hyacinths, like most bulbous ones, is vegetative (by daughter baby bulbs), and propagation by seeds is used for breeding purposes. But the coefficient of natural reproduction in hyacinths is low. During one growing season, 1-3 babies are usually obtained from a large bulb (depending on the variety), and bulbs with a diameter of less than 5 cm do not form a baby at all. This prevents the wide distribution of hyacinths in culture.

Propagation of hyacinths by bulbs is carried out in the fall, and after rooting, top dressing is applied to the soil.

Back in the 18th century Dutch flower growers noticed that the bulbs with the bottom damaged by mice form a large number of small daughter bulbs. Since then, bottom cutting (partial and then complete) has been used to accelerate the reproduction of hyacinths.

There are many ways to artificially propagate hyacinths: cruciform and annular incisions of the bottom, complete cutting of the bottom, isolation of the central bud, getting babies from individual scales and even from leaf blades, heating the bulbs.

Attached images:

Think hyacinth is a flower? No, this is the name of a young man, a dearly beloved friend of the Greek god Apollo. Often the young men had fun by throwing the disk in turn. But the jealousy of the god of the West Winds led to misfortune. And now Hyacinth is bleeding in the arms of a friend - the god Apollo. Apollo could not help him in any way, only in memory of a friend he created a unique flower and named it Hyacinth.

Here, it turns out, thanks to whom many women receive a deliciously smelling gift on March 8. Yes, and such a variety of colors: white, pale yellow, pink (any tone), lilac, blue, blue, red, purple.

Growing hyacinths at home

Looking at the hyacinth, everyone will think: “I want it! Want! Want!". If you want, then everything will be, and you will have to try. "Hyacinth" - Greek word, translated as "flower of the rains", maybe because the grower needs to shed a lot of sweat over its cultivation. This, of course, is a joke, but one must not only know the features of cultivation, but also methodically adhere to them.

Let us preliminarily note what may be necessary additional lighting and supports for flower stalks (the inflorescences are too weighty). Our task is to get as close as possible to the conditions of the natural environment - South Asia and the Mediterranean.

Choosing a location, suitable temperature and light

This is a complex matter, as all of the following factors must be taken into account:

daylight hours are needed for about 15 hours (windows to the south or southeast are suitable, others need additional lighting - an extension of daylight hours);
a flower loves light, but not heat - comfortable temperature a little more than 20˚С - so in the summer you will have to remove the flowerpot from the direct sun or shade it;
does not tolerate drafts or sudden changes in temperature;
likes walks on the terrace or balcony at the right temperature;
in winter, proximity to heating appliances is unacceptable.

Creation of the necessary humidity of air and soil

Everything is simple here - you can not allow the soil to dry out - on the one hand, the bulbs and leaves to rot - on the other. Water regularly, along the walls of the pot, without reaching the bulbs. Drain excess water from the tray. Hyacinth does not need spraying, and during flowering this procedure is prohibited.

Soil selection, fertilizer

The choice of soil mixture is important, neutral soil is suitable for hyacinth, it is ideal to use leaf and sod land, peat, humus and sand in equal proportions. No fresh organics. Pre-calcinate the earth for 1.5 hours in the oven - for disinfection. For lush flowering the plant will need strength, which means that top dressing is required (usual complex fertilizers for flowering plants). The first time at the beginning of the growing season, then - during the budding period, maybe a little in the final phase of flowering.

How to choose planting material

The key to beautiful flowering is a quality bulb. Bulbs should be selected in flower shops according to the following parameters:

the diameter of the bulb is not less than five centimeters;
no damage and decay;
the bulb is dense, not dried;
best time bulb purchases - August.

If you buy, then the stem and peduncle should be erect.

Distillation of hyacinth How to adjust the beginning of flowering to a certain date?

It can be calculated quite approximately as follows: about 2.5 months pass from planting to flowering, the plant itself blooms for 10-18 days (depending on the variety), so it is easy to calculate. We want by the new year - we start in the middle of October, by Valentine's Day - the end of November, by March 8 - the 20th of December. Before buying bulbs, read the growing conditions carefully - the most important thing is that the three phases of forcing require different temperature(meaning a different place).

First step- plant the bulb in a pot and imitate winter. 1.5 -2 months we keep the pot at a temperature of up to 8 ° C and completely darkened. This may be a cellar, and in the absence of it, the lower section of the refrigerator (close the pot with a bag). We proceed to the next stage when the sprout that has appeared reaches 5 cm. We keep the substrate in the flowerpot constantly moist, drying out is unacceptable.

Second phase- an increase in temperature by 5-7 ˚С (spring is coming), the room is still dark. You can gradually move closer to the window, adding light. Looking forward to the buds.

Third stage- flowering, takes place in good light and a temperature of about 20 ˚С. Golden Rule- no sudden jumps in heat and heat, otherwise you will not see flowers.

Planting hyacinth at home

We fill the pot with nutrient soil two-thirds in height. No need to tamp.

We plant the bulbs halfway up so that the tops are on the surface. So the hyacinth will not get sick with putrefactive diseases and will develop perfectly.

After carefully pouring, without touching themselves, put the pot in a dark, cool place. When the leaves are 7-8 cm high, the pot should be placed on a sunny windowsill.

If you have presented the whole process, found places with a suitable temperature - go ahead, plant the bulbs. The matter is simple.

You can pick up individual flowerpots 5 cm wider than the bulb, or you can place several hyacinths in a container (at a distance of 2-3 cm) - this way they look more spectacular.
It is imperative to place drainage at the bottom of the container, then the ground, do not fill it to the top so that the planted bulb peeks out 2 cm from the soil.
We plant the bulbs (not close to the edge of the container), tamp the soil and water abundantly.
From above, you can pour a layer of sand (up to 1 cm) to prevent rotting of the bulbs. That's it, we cover it with a dark film (ventilation holes are required) and in the "winter", in the first phase.

Hyacinth at home after flowering

The eastern name of the hyacinth is “Curls of the Guria”. So they blossomed, delighted us with their curls, wonderful aroma, now it's time to relax.

What to do with home hyacinth after flowering:

The flower has faded - cut off the peduncle. During the dormant period, we adhere to moderate watering, give the plant the opportunity to form "kids" and gain strength for the main bulb.
We feed the plant with complex fertilizer.
Only after the leaves have completely dried should the bulb be dug up.
Carefully inspect, dry in the air, remove the dry husk, let too small "kids" stay with the "mother", and larger ones can be separated.
All of them must be thoroughly dried - the first week even at 30 ° C, then another 2 weeks - 25 ° C, and until planting - at a temperature of 17 ° C and high humidity (so that the bulb does not dry out). This is a very important stage, because right now the future inflorescence and small children are being formed (therefore, the next time you plant, you need to be careful not to damage them).

In autumn, hyacinth bulbs should be planted in the ground in a flower bed so that they can recover from flowering at home. Plant them deeper (15-20 cm) so that they do not freeze out, and cover with a 10 cm layer of mulch. Remove the shelter in spring. Plants may not bloom in the spring, but they will perfectly prepare for the next forcing in the new season. In autumn, the bulbs can be dug up, dried and stored in a cool place until planting in a pot. Bulbs can form babies, it is better to carefully separate them and leave them in a flower bed, they will grow for 4-5 years until they reach the size of adult bulbs. Only then can they be used for distillation at home.

How to propagate hyacinths at home

A faded plant is not suitable for re-forcing a house - it is necessary to plant it in open ground (in autumn, even in a flower bed at the entrance) so that it gains strength.
If you plan to grow it again at home in a year, then this year the hyacinth should not bloom in the ground (you will have to cut the peduncle).
A small baby in 3-4 years can be grown to normal size so that it is suitable for forcing at home.
Over the years, the "cubs" will go through periods of vegetation without flowering, gradually gaining strength.

A sound idea is born here: to get it, buy ready-made planting material, and let it be grown in nurseries.

Diseases and pests

The flower is occasionally affected by yellow bacterial rot, with which, alas, nothing can be done. The plant with the earth will have to be thrown away, and if the pot is planned to be used further, then it must be disinfected.
Pests can be:

spider mite;
nematodes;

To combat them, insecticides are used, however, this cannot be done during the flowering period.
Possible problems when caring for hyacinth at home:

yellow leaves - the draft and watering into the outlet is to blame;
leaves wither - lack of lighting;
falling buds - water got on the buds, a sharp temperature drop;
cessation of flowering - the flower is hot;
rotting - chronic waterlogging.

Conclusion: hyacinth can be grown with patience and care. Grow wisely and enjoy luxurious blooms!

Description of hyacinth

Hyacinths photo when planted at home Hyacinthus orientalis ‘Delft Blue’ photo

Hyacinth is now attributed to the Asparagus family, although earlier it was isolated in a separate family of Hyacinths or ranked as Lileyny. This bulbous perennial is thought to have originated in Asia Minor, but Dutch breeders have worked so hard to develop new varieties, flower and bulbs that it can be considered a truly modern "Dutch".

Hyacinth is a plant up to 30 cm high, a stem and oblong leaves grow from a dense bulb. Hyacinth flowers - small bells with twisted leaves - are collected in a dense cone inflorescence (resembles an ear). In appearance, the flowers are simple and terry.

At the end of flowering, both the peduncle and the leaves dry up, in the corners of the leaves you need to look for small baby bulbs (you can continue to use for breeding), and the main bulb develops on the stem inside the mother bulb.
Perfectly proved itself at home, also in the open field (where one of the first is shown from the ground in the spring). This is not unfounded, it says more than four hundred years of experience in breeding hyacinths. During this time, about 30 species were attributed to this species, including five hundred different plant varieties.

However, today there are three types of hyacinths:

Eastern (Hyacinthus orientalis);
Litvinov (Hyacinthus litwinowii);
Transcaspian (Hyacinthus transcaspicus).

It is on their basis that the whole variety of shapes and colors of these plants is created.

Types and varieties of hyacinth with photos and descriptions

Oriental hyacinth Hyacinthus orientalis- the same great-grandfather of most of today's varieties. Flowers with a delicate aroma are loosely placed on a thin peduncle. It can have any of the shades of white, yellow, pink or blue. In the wild, you can meet in Lebanon, Turkey or Syria.

Litvinov's Hyacinth Hyacinthus litwinowii- has bluish leaves and light blue flowers with protruding stamens. Natural range - Iran, Turkmenistan.

Transcaspian hyacinth Hyacinthus transcaspicus – undersized flower(up to 20 cm), has up to two stems, the leaves are equally thickened along the entire length. In a loose inflorescence no more than a dozen flowers. Natural place - the mountains of Turkmenistan.
Another classification of hyacinths is their division by color:

- Arentine Arendsen (white or cream flowers), terry Snow Crystal and Madame Sophie;

- Yellow Hammer (intense yellow), Oranje Boven (pale yellow), City of Haarlem (salmon);

pink - Anna Marie (light pink), Gertruda (rich pink), Moreno (pink with a dark raspberry stripe);
red - La Victoire, Tubergen's Scarlet, Hollyhock (terry);

lilac - Bismarck (pale), Blue Magic (red-violet), Indigo King (dark purple);
blue - Queen of the Blues (pale blue), Perle Brillante (pale blue), Marie (rich blue).

Hyacinth is a genus of perennial bulbous plants, which includes 4 species. At the moment, it is most often attributed to the family Asparagaceae (Asparagaceae), previously isolated in a separate family Hyacinthaceae (Hyacinthaceae) or attributed to Liliaceae (Liliaceae).

The very name of the genus is translated from Greek as "flower of the rains", since in the arid regions of the Mediterranean its vegetation is timed to coincide with the short rainy season. Today, in the wild, they are found mainly in Greece and on the Adriatic coast of Croatia and Montenegro.

Botanical description

Perennial herbaceous bulbous plants. The bulb is dense, rounded with an elongated upper part, consists of fleshy lower leaves. Each leaf covers the circumference of the entire bottom of the bulb. Outside, the bulb is covered with covering scales, the color of which usually more or less matches the color of hyacinth flowers:

purple bulb - flowers blue, blue or purple;
grayish-cream bulb - flowers yellow color;
lilac bulb - pink flowers.

There are exceptions - so you should always carefully read the descriptions of the varieties.

In addition to the color of the covering scales, varietal characteristics are the size and shape of the bulb. In blue-colored hyacinths, the bulb is usually wide-conical with a ratio of width to height of 1: 1, in white-colored hyacinths it is ovoid, of small thickness.

Plants form a single erect flowering stem growing directly from the bottom. The height of the stem is usually up to 45 cm. The stem is surrounded by straight, belt-shaped, grooved leaves that form a basal rosette. Leaf length - up to 20 cm.

The flowers are collected in a racemose inflorescence. Depending on the variety, the inflorescence may consist of 6-45 flowers. The diameter of the flower is up to 3 cm, the shape is bell-shaped, the petals are bent outward. The color of the petals is an important varietal trait. Petals can be:

white;
pink;
red;
blue;
lilac;
yellow.

The fruit of the hyacinth is a rounded fleshy box with 8 ... 12 rounded seeds. Ripe seeds are dark brown or black with a white seedling.

After the fruits of the hyacinth ripen, the peduncle dries up along with the leaves, but a bud is formed between the topmost leaf and the stem, which grows and turns into a young bulb. This bulb will produce a flower stalk next year. In the corners of other leaves, small bulbs can also form - the so-called. babies that bloom in a few years.

Hyacinth - types and photos

Until recently, it was believed that the genus Hyacinth includes only one species - Eastern Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) - which is the ancestor of all cultural forms and varieties. There are currently 3 types:

Eastern Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)

Described in detail. Distributed in Greece, Asia Minor and on the Adriatic Coast of the Balkan Peninsula. The height of the peduncles is about 30 cm, the flowers are blue-violet.

Hyacinth Litvinova (Hyacinthus litvinowii)

Very similar to the previous one, but the rosette is more spreading, the leaves are shorter and wider, the peduncle is also shorter. The flowers are light blue with a dark stripe at the bottom of each petal.

Hyacinth transcaspian (Hyacinthus transcaspicus)

It is found in the mountain forests of North-Eastern Iran and Turkmenistan. The rosette consists of 2-3 erect leaves up to 16 cm long, the height of the peduncle is up to 20 cm. There are up to 10 small light blue flowers in the inflorescence. Blooms in May.

Botanists argue over a few more species, but that matters only to the botanists themselves. It is important for the flower grower to know that in the culture there are almost exclusively varieties of Hyacinth orientalis.

Varieties

At the moment, breeders from different countries have bred about 400 varieties of hyacinth, which differ mainly in color and shape of flowers. The Dutch have been especially successful in this business, selling varietal bulbs in the millions.

Below are photos of hyacinth flowers of the most popular varieties:

Woodstock (Woodstock) - purple-red flowers, a variety of Dutch selection

Carnegie (Carnegie) - snow-white flowers, a variety of Dutch selection

Chicago (Chicago) - large blue-white flowers, a variety of the famous Dutch manufacturer Mosselman Holland BV

Royal Navy (Royal Navy) - large blue flowers with a narrow white stripe around the edge of each petal

Apricot Passion (Apricot passion) - flowers of soft apricot color

Ailos is one of the most popular varieties. Compact multi-flowered inflorescence in the form of a candle, large flowers white color

Hyacinth variety "Fondant" - a rather rare pink color of the petals

Hyacinth Jan Bos (dark) photo

Another pink hyacinth - Pink Pearl variety

Deft Blue is a very popular variety.

Planting and caring for hyacinths in the open field

Site selection

Highly fertile sandy and light loamy soils with an acidity of about 6 ... 6.5 are suitable for planting hyacinths. Swampy, flooded soils in spring and autumn, as well as areas with high lying soils, are completely unsuitable for growing. groundwater. When grown in excessively moist soils, the bulbs will rot: therefore, on damp areas hyacinths are grown on high ridges.

The site should be well lit by the sun and protected from the wind.

Soil preparation

A month before planting the bulbs, the plot is dug up to a depth of at least 20 cm, humus (6 ... 8 kg / m2), double superphosphate (50 g / m2) or the corresponding amount of simple superphosphate, potassium chloride or potassium sulfate (about 120-150 grams per 1 m2). It is impossible to bring in fresh manure and chicken manure.

I must say that hyacinths will survive without fertilization, but with good nutrition you will get both larger inflorescences and larger bulbs.

If the soil is acidic, it makes sense to add about 80 grams of lime per 1 m2. Maximum effect from the introduction of lime it will appear only after a year, but in the year of planting it will also slightly reduce acidity.

After digging, large clods of earth are broken, the site is leveled. Everything as usual.

Landing

In conditions middle lane Russia, Belarus, northern Ukraine, etc. the best time for planting hyacinth is the end of September - the beginning of October. In other regions, the planting time should be adjusted based on climatic conditions.

Bulbs are planted bottom down (surprising, right?) with a distance of about 20-30 cm between rows and 10-15 cm between bulbs in a row. The planting depth depends on the size of the bulbs (the depth from the bottom to the ground is given):

with a bulb diameter less than 5 cm - 6 ... 8 cm;
with a diameter of bulbs from 5 cm - 10 ... 12 cm

The best results are achieved when planting hyacinths in the so-called. "sand pillow" It looks like this:

a layer of sand about 3 cm thick is poured at the bottom of the furrow;
bulbs are planted, slightly pressing them into the sand;
sprinkle with a layer of sand, slightly covering the bulb;
covered with earth.

Sand protects the bottom from decay and reduces the risk of developing bacterial and fungal diseases. Wherein mineral nutrition plants do not suffer, since the roots very quickly pass through the sand layer and develop mainly in the fertile soil layer.

After planting, the bulbs should be watered.

Hyacinth Care

Autumn

If the autumn is dry, plantings should be watered regularly to provide conditions for the development of a strong root system. Stop watering a week before frost.

With the onset of stable cold weather, young plantings must be mulched. For this purpose, you can use dry peat, sawdust, humus, dry leaves, straw, etc.

Winter

If the winter is not snowy, it is necessary to ensure that the area with hyacinths is covered with snow - it will protect the bulbs during severe frosts. If there is no snow, it is advisable to cover the mulched area with geotextiles.

Spring and summer

Immediately after the snow melts, carefully remove the mulch. Be careful - because very tender and vulnerable shoots often already grow under it.

Around the second half of April, hyacinths begin to grow actively. At this time, it is important to loosen the soil between them: the roots need air, and loose soil warms up faster in the sun.

top dressing

Many do not feed hyacinths at all (let's face it, many do not feed flowers at all), but top dressing is necessary to achieve maximum results. The first is carried out in late April-early May: 10 grams of nitrogen and potassium per 1 m2 are added to the furrows (according to the active substance). This will allow the plant to form a powerful rosette of leaves.

The second top dressing is carried out after the appearance of buds: its purpose is to provide conditions for the development of large flowers. Top dressing is done complex: about 10 grams of nitrogen and potassium and 20 grams of phosphorus per square meter.

The third top dressing is carried out after flowering: 10 grams of potassium and 20 grams of phosphorus per square meter are added to the furrows. It is important for the formation of healthy bulbs and babies.

Watering

In dry weather, hyacinths should be watered. Plants are especially demanding on moisture during budding and flowering, as well as immediately after it.

Bulb Digging

Bulbs should be dug up annually or every two years. When digging every two years, a large number of children are formed on the bulb.

The best time is the beginning of yellowing of the leaves and the appearance of small purple spots at their base. This means that a cork layer has formed at the base of the leaf, which gradually separates the leaf blade from the bulb. Usually the bulbs are fully ripe in July.

The bulbs are dug up, washed with water, dried in the shade and sorted by size. The breakdown classification is as follows:

diameter more than 5.7 cm - extra;
5.0 ... 5.6 cm - I analysis;
4.0 ... 4.9 cm - II analysis;
2.0 ... .3.9 cm - III analysis.

1 ... 1.9 cm - I category;
Less than 1 cm - II category.

Dried bulbs and the baby are laid for storage. It should be stored in a ventilated area - the first two months at a temperature of 22 ... 25 degrees, then at a temperature of 16 ... 18 degrees. Stored until the end of September, and then again planted in the ground.

cut

Inflorescences are suitable for cutting, in which the lower flowers have begun to bloom. It is better to cut hyacinths in the morning or in the evening - the flowers cut during the day quickly wither. It is not necessary to use a knife or scissors: juicy peduncles easily break out at the base.

Peduncles placed in water secrete mucus - therefore, 3 hours after cutting, the water is changed, and only after that hyacinths can be used in bouquets. In the future, the water should be changed 2-3 times a day: in this case, the flowers can stand up to 2 weeks.

Hyacinths have delighted flower growers with a riot of colors and shapes for five centuries.

The multicolor and variety of hyacinths allows them to be used in landscape and interior design, floristry, indoor and garden cultivation.

Conquered by the beauty of fragrant flowers, the ancient Romans and Greeks composed legends about them. They were the first to grow the plant in their gardens.

Since then, a huge number of varieties have been bred from three wild-growing species of flowers, differing in shape, habitat, and purpose.

Varieties and varieties
There is a heated debate about the generic affiliation of hyacinths. Before the reorganization of botanical classifications, scientists identified more than 30 species and 500 varieties of flowers.
Now only three types are considered directly hyacinths: hyacinth Litvinov, transcaspian, eastern. Mouse and water transferred to other generic groups.
Varieties of hyacinths, unlike lilies, tulips, daffodils, do not have a clear group distinction.
Conditionally varieties are distinguished:
By the start of flowering (early, medium, late).
Flower shape (multi-flowered, double, simple).
Growing method (indoor, greenhouse, varieties for open ground).

Experts prefer to describe varieties by the color of the inflorescences and distinguish six main groups of flowers: blue, lilac, pink, red, white, yellow(orange) hyacinths.
The international catalog of breeding achievements includes about 200 descriptions of flower varieties bred over the past century. Over 60 flowers are cultivated in industrial scale.

Oriental
Most grown on garden plots, varieties grown in parks, in flower beds belong to oriental look, which has a Dutch, whitish, Provencal variety.

Eastern Dutch
Based on flowers exported from Asia Minor and the Mediterranean Dutch breeders have bred about 400 varieties cultivated oriental hyacinths. Flowers progenitors of modern ornamental varieties with yellowish-white, pink, blue, purple flowers and a pronounced aroma are still found in the wild nature of Syria, Libya, and Turkey.
Eastern hyacinth - bulbous plant. The plant belongs to the Asparagus family. Bulb dutch flower forms a single peduncle from 15-25 cm. The plant has a cylindrical stem 5 mm in diameter. The leaves are light green in color with a smooth surface.
Bell-shaped flowers of various shapes - terry, simple, multi-flowered have a variety of colors. Formed in racemose loose inflorescences.
The plant propagates by bulbs, scales, cuttings, seeds. Blooms 2-3 weeks.
The bulbs are poisonous due to the presence of oxalic acid. When ingested, poisonous bulbs cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and suffocation.
In leaves, stems contains colchicine, an alkaloid used to treat gout, Mediterranean fever.
Alcoholic infusion of flower petals used in cosmetics for smoothing the skin, wrinkles, as aromatic fragrances.

whitish oriental
Known as Franco-Roman, Cape, Galtonia whitish. Tall plants up to 65 cm. Peduncles, unlike the Dutch subspecies, the plant produces several - up to 3 pieces, but they are short and weak.
The leaves are large, green-bluish. Inflorescences form a rare multi-flowered raceme. Flowers white, hanging, bell-shaped. In the southern regions of Russia, the plant begins to bloom in June, in central plant blooms from early August to mid-September.
The plant is propagated by seeds, dividing the bulbs. In the southern regions with warm and temperate climate bulbs are not dug for the winter, the bulb tolerates cold time under cover.

Provencal
The plant stands out among the oriental hyacinths saturated pink color of inflorescences.

Litvinova (hyacinth, hyacinthella Litvinova)
The type of wild hyacinth was first described by the Russian florist, geographer, Dmitry Ivanovich Litvinov (1845-1929).
The habitat of flowers is mountainous Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Syria, Lebanon. In 1975 listed in the Red Book of the USSR, in 1999 - in the Red Book of Turkmenistan.
Plant height up to 25 cm. Spaced broad leaves are green-bluish. Produces 2-3 flower stalks.
Flowers are odorless, with protruding stamens of various shades blue, pink, lilac, white. The petals of hyacinth flowers are cut, bent inward.
Litvinova look like in these photos:

Transcaspian (Kopet Dag)
Very rare wild species. It is an endemic plant of the Kopetdag, part of the Turkmen-Khorasan mountain system. Plant grows at an altitude of 1000 to 2000 m above sea level. Grows under juniper trees.
Herbaceous perennial, the plant blooms and forms seeds in the fifth year of life. An oval-shaped bulb throws out 2-3 stems. In a racemose inflorescence 4 to 10 light blue bellflowers. The leaves are uniform in width, fleshy, juicy, bare, green-bluish. The fruit is in the form of a box.
Transcaspian and Litvinov's hyacinth are of great interest to breeders. They make it possible to introduce "fresh blood" into the varieties of flowers of the eastern subspecies that are repeatedly crossed among themselves.

Mouse (muscari, viper onion)
Refers to bulbous plants, plant of the asparagus family. Prior to the revision of the botanical classification, it was defined as a subfamily of lilies.
Of the 44 species described by 2015, most are endemic. The distribution area includes the Balkans, Transcaucasia, Turkey, the Mediterranean, Malaya and Central Asia, North Africa. The plant prefers steppes, meadows, forest edges, mountain slopes. More than 60 varieties have been bred decorative .
Muscari hyacinths grow in bunches of 2-7 bulbous linear leaves. The flowers are up to 30 cm high.
Flowers small, barrel-like, form a multi-flowered brush on a leafless arrow. Six short perianth cloves are bent outwards.
Mouse are presented in these photos:

Seeds ripen in a rectangular, spherical or heart-shaped box. During the growing season, up to 20 pieces of children are formed on the ovoid mother bulb, with which the plant reproduces.
The flower of the species has a characteristic strong pleasant aroma. IN landscape design the most commonly used are Armenian (Colchis), grape-shaped, crested, racemose muscari.
Dense large groups from the flowers of mouse hyacinth look decorative on lawns, alpine slides, in flower beds, discounts, rockeries, mixborders.
Video about growing and caring for Muscari mouse hyacinth:

Aquatic (eichornia, green plague)
In his native Brazil, he often creates serious problems for shipping, covering the rivers with a dense carpet of pink, blue, purple, lilac flowers and rosettes of leaves.
Plant belongs to aquatic plants of the genus Eichnoria pontederiaceae family. The name "Water hyacinth" the plant received for the similarity of the shape and color of the flowers.
half meter flower roots are hidden under water. Inside the leaf, near the cutting itself, there is a porous tissue that forms a characteristic swelling and holds the plant on the surface of the water.

cultivated plants grown in ponds artificial reservoirs, aquariums. Aquarium varieties of water hyacinth are smaller than those cultivated in free water, but are not inferior to them in beauty.
Due to the property of eichornia to absorb dissolved in water heavy metals, phenols, insecticides, nitrogenous compounds, phosphates in countries with a warm climate, they are often used as an absorbent on treatment facilities. In aquariums with growing eichornia, there is no need to connect a filter.
For more on eichornia and its properties to purify water bodies, see the video:
For more than four centuries, hyacinths have been cultivated as indoor culture. Gorgeous in flower arrangements. Hyacinths of all kinds versatile in their decorative quality. All types of flowers fit perfectly into the urban and park landscape.