Hyacinth City of Haarlem -MASTER-

City of Haarlem produces multitudes of star-shaped flowers on racemes of a central spike growing from the bulb. Multitudes of delicate blooms of primrose yellows engulf the raceme in both beauty and fragrance. Foliage consists of long leaves that are green, narrow and oblong with slightly inwardly curling edges.

Mid- to late-spring blooming, City of Haarlem will flower in March and April and will bring brilliant pure whites with a lovely perfume in the air. Indoors, usually arriving in the month of February come early blooming flowers planted in pots or containers or outdoors for visually appealing and perfumed pathways or patio areas. Plant in full sun to partially shaded areas and enjoy as elegant cut flowers for use in a vase or flower arrangement.

Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are composed of clusters of small, bell shaped flowers with curved petals and are often very fragrant. Leaves are long, narrow and a dark green colour. Hyacinth blooms form in a variety of colours, from vibrant pinks to deep blues. Flowers on Hyacinths grow on racemes of dense clusters on single stalks.

Hyacinths do well in containers or pots and can be forced to bloom early indoors. Hyacinths are known for being a spring flower and March 7th is World Hyacinth Day. Plants originate from the eastern Mediterranean and are generally easy to care for, but colours and bloom quality may diminish after several seasons.

Plant Hyacinths in fertile, well-drained soils that are in full sun to partial shade. In areas where there are colder winters, make sure to cover the bulbs with mulch to protect from severe temperatures. Hyacinths should be planted in the fall season.

After the flowering season, the Hyacinth flower stalk can be removed, but leave the green foliage to gather energy and store in the bulb for the following season. Hyacinth bulbs are generally planted at a depth of about three times the diameter of the bulb, for most plants this is usually around 15-20cm. Plant Hyacinth bulbs 15cm apart. Depending on the variety, a Hyacinth can grow to 15-30cm in height and the bloom stalks may need to be staked.

Maintaining moisture for the plan is important, even after planting the bulbs in the fall, so make sure to continue watering regularly during drier periods before the onset of colder winter weather.