Hyacinthus x orientalis Gipsy Princess

The  Hyacinthus orientalis 'Gipsy Princess' is one of the many hybrids derived from the oriental hyacinth. It displays a lavish spike, loaded with numerous single and star-shaped flowers, in an original intense creamy yellow colour. Its single flowers have the slightly waxy appearance of tuberoses, and are, like them, fleshy and deliciously fragrant, capable of perfuming the entire house. This lovely variety, excellent for both vase and garden, blooms in the middle of the hyacinth season, in March-April. Pair this yellow hyacinth with plants in blue or rust tones.

If Hyacinthus orientalis is almost no longer 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 botanical species can be found naturalized in France in Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes, and Lot-et-Garonne.

The 'Gipsy Princess' hyacinth, just like it, belongs to the family of hyacinthaceae or asparagaceae. It has a large oval bulb and forms a clump of bright green ribbon-like leaves from spring, from which, in April-May, emerges a robust floral stem,  25 cm (10in) long, bearing numerous star-shaped, diaphanous flowers with a thick and translucent substance, in shades of banana, lemon, and very soft creamy yellow, and a sweet fragrance. The foliage is deciduous in summer; it reappears at the end of winter.

Among early bloomers, the hyacinth is one of the few bulbs with large flowers. Reserve a prime spot for it in the garden, not far from the entrance of the house to enjoy its fragrance with every passing. It will bring spectacular spots of color to your flower beds. Hyacinths can easily be paired with other early bulbs such as Chionodoxas or early Tulips. Their flowers are edible, raw or cooked, and have a slightly mucilaginous texture. Depending on preferences, they can be candied with sugar or added to fruit salads. In the past, they were a delicacy known as “confit of Constantinople hyacinths”.