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Hyacinthus x orientalis Aiolos

Hyacinthus x orientalis Aiolos
Common Hyacinth, Garden Hyacinth

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They have just sprouted, and don't seem very eager to do the rest, but I'm not in a hurry either, all I ask of them is to be in bloom for Christmas." Revision: "They have just emerged, and don't seem very eager to continue, but I am not in a hurry either. All I ask of them is to be in flower for Christmas.

Gisele, 17/11/2020

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This plant carries a 6 months recovery warranty

More information

Value-for-money
Beautiful white hyacinth, derived from 'Delft Blue' and 'Carnegie'. Its flowers, waxy like those of tuberoses, bloom in a blend of ivory and cream, and become sparkling white at ripeness. They are as beautiful as they are fragrant and are gathered in very dense spikes. At home, this bulbous plant prepared for forcing will bloom in the heart of winter, in a bright room.
Flower size
20 cm
Height at maturity
25 cm
Spread at maturity
10 cm
Exposure
Sun, Partial shade
Hardiness
Hardy down to -15°C
Soil moisture
Moist soil
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Best planting time October
Recommended planting time September to November
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Flowering time January to February, December
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Description

The Hyacinthus orientalis or Aiolos Hyacinth is a beautiful white hyacinth, proudly named after a renowned loyal, upright, and just Knight of the Zodiac. This robust variety produces a very dense spike of fleshy, star-shaped flowers, reminiscent of tuberoses with their ivory and cream colour, becoming sparkling white at maturity. It also shares the sweet and sugary fragrance typical of oriental hyacinths. When forced indoors, this bulbous plant will bloom in the heart of winter, in a bright room.

 

While the Oriental Hyacinth is no longer widely cultivated, this species native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions has given rise to countless highly regarded cultivars in gardens for their delightful spring flowering, or in floristry for their forcing ability. This naturalized botanical species can be found in France in Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes, and Lot-et-Garonne.

The 'Aiolos' hyacinth, like its namesake, belongs to the family of hyacinthaceae or asparagaceae. This cultivar, resulting from the cross-breeding of 'Delft Blue' and 'Carnegie', combines the qualities of both parents. It has a large ovate bulb and forms a clump of bright green ribbon-like leaves, from which a very robust floral stem emerges in December or January indoors, reaching 20 to 25 cm (8 to 10in) in length. The stem bears numerous star-shaped flowers with a thick and waxy texture, ranging from creamy white to pure white, tightly packed together and exuding a sweet fragrance. The foliage is deciduous after flowering. It is at this point that the bulb, depleted of its reserves, enters dormancy. The forcing technique involves exposing the bulbs to cold temperatures for several weeks from the end of summer, to break their dormancy and induce the flowering process.

 

Among early bloomers, the hyacinth is one of the few bulbs with large flowers and one of the easiest to force for winter flowering. Give it a prominent place in a very bright room, away from any sources of heat. Forcing at home is child's play: for example, use a narrow-necked vase specially designed for forcing hyacinth bulbs. Fill it with water and place the bulb so that its base is just above the water. Ensure that the water level always reaches the base of the bulb, but never higher. Don't hesitate to mix different plant species suitable for this cultivation method to create original compositions: tulips, daffodils, crocuses, Greek anemones, squills, as well as branches of Japanese quince, forsythias, apple trees, cherry trees, plum trees. Their hyacinth flowers are edible, both raw and cooked, and have a slightly mucilaginous texture. Depending on your preferences, you can crystallize them with sugar or incorporate them into fruit salads. In the past, they were considered a delicacy and could be found under the name of "candied Constantinople hyacinths". The 'Aiolos' hyacinth will look stunning alongside varieties such as 'Delft Blue' (bright blue), 'Fondant' (soft pink), or 'Jan Bos' (raspberry red).

Hyacinthus x orientalis Aiolos in pictures

Hyacinthus x orientalis Aiolos (Flowering) Flowering
Hyacinthus x orientalis Aiolos (Plant habit) Plant habit

Plant habit

Height at maturity 25 cm
Spread at maturity 10 cm
Growth rate fast

Flowering

Flower colour white
Flowering time January to February, December
Inflorescence Cluster
Flower size 20 cm
Fragrance Fragrant, sweet, floral, fresh
Bee-friendly Attracts pollinators
Good for cut flowers Cut flower blooms

Foliage

Foliage persistence Deciduous
Foliage colour dark green

Botanical data

Genus

Hyacinthus

Species

x orientalis

Cultivar

Aiolos

Family

Hyacinthaceae

Other common names

Common Hyacinth, Garden Hyacinth

Origin

Cultivar or hybrid

Product reference826241

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Planting and care

For the forcing of hyacinth bulbs, it is highly recommended to obtain new bulbs cultivated specifically for this purpose each year.

Indeed, the bulbs are exhausted by forcing, and even a period of rest after the foliage has dried up will not allow them to replenish their reserves.
However, they can still be stored, once the foliage has turned yellow, in a cool place until autumn, when they can be replanted in the garden. The bulbs that are replanted will typically bloom after two years, as a season of growth in the open ground without flowering will have allowed them to replenish their reserves.


First method: pot cultivation:
Upon receiving your bulbs, choose an attractive container with a drainage hole (terrine, planter), the height of which should be at least twice the height of the bulbs. Place a layer of gravel at the bottom, followed by a mixture of soil or horticultural compost mixed with sand or a ready-to-use mixture. The substrate should be light and porous, a mixture of 2/3 garden soil and 1/3 sand works well.

The bulbs should be planted close together but should not touch, and the soil should cover them by 10 cm (4in).

Place the pots outside in the garden or on a balcony.

When the bulb sprouts, bring the pot indoors and place it in a dark and cool location for a period ranging from four days to a week. Once the shoot reaches a height of eight to ten centimeters, move the pot inside the house. It is preferable to allow for an adjustment period by first placing it in a slightly cool and bright room before installing it in a heated room, near a window in the living room for example, and regularly turning the pot to prevent the twisting of the floral spike.

Second method: carafe cultivation:

In stores, forcing carafes or hyacinth carafes can be found, but it is also possible to use a small vase, a jar, or any other transparent glass container with a diameter that matches the diameter of the bulb. In this case, the growing medium is water.

Place a piece of charcoal at the bottom of the carafe to prevent rot and putrefaction of the water.

Place the bulb in the carafe with the tip facing upwards.

Pour water into the carafe so that it reaches the base of the bulb, without actually touching it, leaving 1 or 2 millimeters between the water surface and the base of the bulb.

Place everything outside, or in a cool, frost-free place.

Maintain the water level precisely at the base of the bulb. Roots will develop at the base, as well as small shoots at the top of the bulb.

When the shoot measures approximately 8 centimeters (3 inches), the carafe can be brought inside the house, even in a slightly heated and well-lit room.


Planting period

Best planting time October
Recommended planting time September to November
Planting depth 10 cm

Intended location

Type of use Greenhouse, Conservatory
Hardiness Hardy down to -15°C (USDA zone 7b) Show map
Ease of cultivation Beginner
Planting density 20 per m2
Exposure Sun, Partial shade
Soil pH Any
Soil moisture Moist soil, Well-drained, deep soil.

Care

Pruning instructions Eliminate the faded flowers so that the plant does not exhaust itself by producing seeds.
Pruning Pruning recommended once a year
Pruning time February to March
Soil moisture Moist soil
Disease resistance Good
Overwinter Needs to be stored
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