Hyacinth 'City of Haarlem' Hyacinthus orientalis 'City of Haarlem'

☠ Toxic to humans

🐾 Toxic to pets

🌸 Blooming

🍪 Not edible

‍🌱 Easy-care

ABOUT

'City of Haarlem' is a bulb to 30cm in height, with fleshy, rich green leaves and long, stiffly erect spikes of fragrant light primrose yellow flowers

Plant Info

Care

Common Problems

About this plant

Names
- Family
  Asparagaceae
- Synonyms
  Common Hyacinth, Garden Hyacinth, Dutch Hyacinth
- Common names
  Hyacinthus orientalis 'City of Haarlem'.
Characteristics
- Life cycle
  Perennials
- Foliage type
  Deciduous
- Color of leaves
  Green
- Flower color
  Yellow
- Height
  10 inches (25 cm)
- Spread
  6 inches (15 cm)
- Plant type
  Bulb
- Hardiness zones
  4
- Native area
  Mediterranean

Benefits

General Benefits
- Aesthetic Appeal: Hyacinthus orientalis 'City of Haarlem', commonly known as hyacinth, offers bright yellow flowers that can enhance the visual beauty of gardens and landscapes.
- Fragrance: Hyacinths are well-known for their strong and pleasant fragrance, making them a popular choice for perfuming outdoor areas and indoor spaces when used as cut flowers.
- Early Spring Bloom: They are among the first flowers to bloom in spring, providing early color to gardens after the winter months.
- Attracts Pollinators: Hyacinths can attract bees and other pollinators to the garden, which is beneficial for the pollination of plants and the overall health of the garden ecosystem.
- Bulb Vigor: Hyacinths are hardy bulbs that can naturalize in the right conditions, meaning they can come back year after year with minimal care.
- Container Gardening: They are suitable for container gardening, allowing people with limited space such as balconies or patios to enjoy their beauty and scent.
- Forced Blooms: Hyacinth bulbs can be forced to bloom indoors during the winter, bringing color and fragrance into the home during the colder months.
- Flower Arrangements: The sturdy stems and vibrant flowers of hyacinths make them great for use in floral arrangements and bouquets.
- Seasonal Themes: Hyacinths, with their traditional springtime association, are perfect for Easter and other spring-related themes and decorations.
- Easy to Grow: They are relatively easy to grow and maintain, making them suitable for novice gardeners looking to add reliable blooms to their garden.
Medical Properties
This plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying Qualities
This plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses
- Hyacinths, including the City of Haarlem variety, can be used as a natural dye source, giving fabrics and yarns a range of beautiful colors depending on the mordant used.
- The sturdy stems of hyacinths may be woven into small decorative items like wreaths or even used in dried flower arrangements to add a touch of elegance.
- With their strong fragrance and beautiful blooms, hyacinths can serve as a natural air freshener in small spaces when kept in a room.
- These flowers can be a subject for botanical art, such as watercolor painting, due to their vibrant colors and appealing shapes.
- Pressed hyacinth flowers can create lovely bookmarks, cards, or other craft items, preserving their beauty long after the blooms have faded.
- Used in fragrance industry, the scent of hyacinths can be used to create perfumes, scented candles, or potpourri blends.
- While not a culinary ingredient, hyacinths can be used to inspire flavors for confectionery items such as candies and desserts, emulating their floral notes.
- During certain festivals, the bulbs of hyacinths can be gifted as a symbol of rebirth and new beginnings, coinciding with their springtime blooming.
- In photography, hyacinths can be the subject of macro photography, highlighting the intricate patterns and dewdrops on their petals.
- The beautiful fields of hyacinths, including the City of Haarlem, can serve as stunning backdrops or settings for film and photo shoots.

Interesting Facts

Feng Shui
The hyacinth is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign Compitability
The hyacinth is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism
- Rebirth: The hyacinth often symbolizes rebirth due to its spring blooming and as a representation of the season's renewal.
- Beauty: With its beautiful and varied colors, the hyacinth is often associated with the concept of natural beauty and charm.
- Playfulness: The varied colors and lush petals can symbolize a playful nature, joy, and a sense of sport or play.
- Constancy: The plant's reliable blooming season after season can symbolize constancy and fidelity in relationships.
- Sorrow: In Greek mythology, Hyacinthus was a beautiful youth who died, and from his blood, a hyacinth was born, leading to a symbolic association with deep sorrow in some contexts.
- Jealousy: The story of Hyacinthus also involves jealousy from the god Zephyr, which has translated into the hyacinth sometimes representing envy.
- Peace: In some cultural traditions, the hyacinth can symbolize peace, offering a comforting presence or a desire for tranquility.

💧

Every 1-2 weeks

Water

☀️

2500 - 10000 Lux

Light

💦️

Humidity

🪴

Every 3-5 years

Repotting

🌱️

Spring

Propogation

✂️️

Not needed

Pruning

Water
The common hyacinth, including the 'City of Haarlem' variety, should be watered moderately. During active growth, ensure the soil is kept moist but not waterlogged by watering once a week with about 1 inch of water. When the plant is in bloom, you may need to water slightly more frequently to maintain consistent soil moisture. After flowering, reduce watering gradually as the leaves begin to yellow and die back. It is crucial not to overwater as this can lead to bulb rot.
Light
Hyacinths, such as 'City of Haarlem', thrive in full sunlight to partial shade. Ideally, place them in a location where they can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. However, in very hot climates, they benefit from light shade during the hottest part of the day to prevent overheating.
Temperature
Hyacinths, including 'City of Haarlem', prefer cooler temperatures and can tolerate winter chills. They can survive winter temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit and will start to grow when temperatures are between 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal growing temperature for hyacinths is within the range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during their growth and blooming phase.
Pruning
Pruning hyacinths such as 'City of Haarlem' typically involves deadheading spent flowers to redirect energy to the bulb rather than seed production. This should be done soon after the flowers fade but leave the foliage intact until it has completely died back naturally, as the leaves are necessary for photosynthesis, which replenishes the bulb for the next season.
Cleaning
As needed
Soil
Hyacinth 'City of Haarlem' thrives in well-draining, moderately fertile soil with a pH of 6-7. A mix of loam, sand, and compost works well to provide the essential nutrients and proper drainage.
Repotting
Hyacinths, including 'City of Haarlem', generally do not require frequent repotting and can be replanted annually if grown in containers, or left undisturbed for several years in the ground.
Humidity & Misting
Hyacinth 'City of Haarlem' prefers average humidity levels. They do not have special humidity requirements and can thrive in the natural humidity found in most homes and gardens.
Suitable locations
- Indoor
  Grow in bright light, cool temps, and water sparingly.
- Outdoor
  Plant bulbs in fall, in well-drained soil, sun to part shade.
- Hardiness zone
  4-8 USDA
Life cycle
Hyacinth 'City of Haarlem' begins its life cycle as a dormant bulb, which sprouts to produce strap-shaped leaves and a flowering stem in spring after a period of winter chilling. The stem bears a dense spike of fragrant yellow flowers that eventually bloom and are pollinated by insects, leading to seed formation. As the flowers fade, the plant enters a period of dormancy where the foliage dies back and the bulb stores energy from the leaves. This bulb then rests below ground during the hot summer months. In autumn, the bulb can produce offsets, which are small bulbs that split off from the main bulb and can be used for propagation. The cycle repeats the following spring when temperatures increase and the bulbs have chilled sufficiently to break dormancy.
Propogation
- Propogation time
  Spring
- Hyacinthus orientalis 'City of Haarlem', commonly known as the Hyacinth, is usually propagated through bulb division. The optimal time for this propagation method is in late summer or early fall, after the foliage has died back, but before the ground becomes too cold or has frozen. To propagate through bulb division, carefully dig up the hyacinth bulbs and gently separate any offsets, which are small bulblets that form at the base of the mother bulb, from the main bulb. These offsets should be large enough to have a few layers of bulb scales and their own roots. Replant these offsets immediately in well-drained soil with the pointed end facing upwards at a depth of approximately 6 inches (15 centimeters) and space them about 6 inches (15 centimeters) apart to allow for adequate growing space.