Hyacinthus x orientalis Red Diamond

The Hyacinthus orientalis 'Red Diamond' is a hybrid hyacinth that will charm with its intense red-pink colour and the sweet scent of its double flowers. Its triangular star-shaped flowers make up a well-supplied spike that will remain in bloom for 2 or 3 weeks. A bit elusive, the voluptuous and highly floral scent of hyacinths lingers in the garden on calm, warm days. It rises from the soil like a mist, seemingly coming from nowhere.

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 appreciated cultivars in gardens for their delightful spring flowering or in floristry for their forcing ability. This botanical species, well adapted to dry summer soils, can be found naturalized in France in Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes, and Lot-et-Garonne. Hyacinths belong to the family Hyacinthaceae or Asparagaceae, depending on the classification.

The 'Red Diamond' hyacinth has a large oval bulb, in which its reserves are stored. In spring, it produces a tuft of ribbon-like leaves of a very bright green. Then, in March-April, a robust flowering stem, 20-25 cm (8-10in) tall, emerges, carrying numerous double flowers, star-shaped and tightly packed together, with a thick, translucent substance, whose colour is intermediate between dark pink and red. They emit a sweet scent. The foliage is deciduous in summer; it reappears in late 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 or the terrace, to enjoy its scent with every passing. In addition to its fragrance, it will bring spectacular splashes of colour to your borders, among euphorbias or alchemillas with their very spring-like green. Hyacinths can easily be paired with other early bulbs such as Chionodoxas, Ipheions, hybrid crocuses, or early-flowering Tulipa humilis. Their flowers are edible, raw or 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 "candied hyacinths of Constantinople."