Bulb · Asparagaceae family
common hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
In short a 10-second read
Common hyacinth (bulb) grows to 0.2–0.3 m tall and 0.08–0.15 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. It flowers in April; the flowers are blue, purple, pink, red, white or yellow. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 0.08–0.15 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
average · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Soil pH 5.5–8.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 1–2 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
April · blue, purple, pink, red, white or yellow
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove the leaves once they have turned yellow (May–June).
Planting
bulb: September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does common hyacinth flower?
In April; the flowers are blue, purple, pink, red, white or yellow.
Does common hyacinth tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does common hyacinth need?
At maturity 0.08–0.15 m wide and 0.2–0.3 m tall; recommended spacing 12 cm.
Does common hyacinth survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 15 expert sources. Last checked 20 October 2026.
Show sources (15)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Hyacinthus orientalis
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Hyacinthus orientalis
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Hyacinthus orientalis
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Hyacinthus orientalis
- Wikidata (CC0) — Hyacinthus orientalis
- EPPO Global Database — Hyacinthus orientalis
- RHS - Bulbs: growing guide
- RHS - Hyacinthus orientalis
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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