Hyacinthus Miss Saigon - Garden Hyacinth

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Miss Saigon' is a garden hyacinth, usually intended to be grown outdoors, and is here prepared to bloom early indoors. This allows its flowering to be shifted from March to January, in order to enjoy its beautiful flowers in the middle of winter! The large violet inflorescences are particularly ornamental, and furthermore, they emit a delightful fragrance in the house. It will be perfectly at home in a bright and cool room, where it will enhance the space for a few weeks.

While the Oriental Hyacinth is no longer widely cultivated, this species, native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, has given rise to countless cultivars, highly appreciated in gardens for their delightful spring flowering or in floristry for their forcing ability. 

Formerly classified among the Liliaceae, the genus Hyacinthus is now classified in the Asparagaceae family, along with asparagus, as well as Agave and Yucca. This plant has a large oval bulb and forms a clump of narrow, elongated, shiny green leaves. Starting in January indoors (or March outdoors), a robust flower stalk, 20cm (8in) long, emerges from the clump of leaves. It becomes covered in a multitude of small star-shaped flowers, borne on short peduncles, forming a dense cluster measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter. Each flower consists of a tube at the base, which opens at the other end into a star-shaped corolla, made up of six elongated, pointed petals. The inflorescence has a violet colouration, of great beauty, very attractive during the dark days of winter. In addition to this, it has a strong fragrance that adds to the appeal of this bulbous plant. The foliage is deciduous after flowering, and it is at this time that the bulb, whose reserves are depleted, enters dormancy. The forcing technique involves exposing the bulbs to cold temperatures for several weeks, starting at the end of summer, in order to break their dormancy and induce the flowering process before the normal time.

The hyacinth is probably the easiest bulbous plant to force, allowing its flowering to be brought forward to the heart of winter. Therefore, it deserves a prime spot in a very bright room, away from any sources of heat.
Combine it with other bulbous plants to create a flowering winter decor. Crocuses also lend themselves well to forcing, as does the Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) with its trailing white bell-shaped flowers, full of romance. The vibrant Daffodils, with their bright yellow, orange, or white flowers, are also good candidates for forcing. To add volume to your decor, consider adding some branches of Cornus stolonifera 'Flaviramea', a Cornus with bright yellow wood in winter.

Hyacinth flowers are edible, both raw and cooked, and have a slightly mucilaginous texture. They can be crystallized with sugar or added to fruit salads, according to taste. In the past, they were considered a delicacy and could be found under the name "confeit of Constantinople hyacinths".