Hyacinthus Twin Pearl - Garden Hyacinth

Hyacinthus orientalis 'Twin Pearl' is a hybrid hyacinth with fully double flowers, in a deep blue tending towards violet, pleasantly scented. Its beautiful clusters of star-shaped flowers in intense colours bloom from the end of March, or in April depending on the climate. This highly ornamental bulb is perfect for borders as well as flower beds, where it happily combines with lighter-coloured varieties to create stunning floral compositions.

The Oriental Hyacinth, a slender botanical species with small spikes of blue flowers, is no longer widely cultivated. It originated in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions. However, it has given rise to countless cultivars called Dutch Hyacinths, highly appreciated in gardens for their delightfully fragrant spring flowering or in floristry for their forcing ability. 

Formerly classified among the Liliaceae, the genus Hyacinthus is now part of the Asparagaceae family, like asparagus, as well as Agave and Yucca. This plant has a large oval bulb and forms a clump of narrow, elongated, shiny green leaves. From March, a sturdy flower stem, 20cm (8in) long, emerges from the clump of leaves. It is covered with numerous small, fully open star-shaped flowers. Carried by short peduncles, the corollas that form a dense cluster measuring 8 to 10cm (3 to 4in) in diameter and about fifteen in length consist of 2 or 3 groups of petals. These small double flowers have a slightly purplish blue colour, reminiscent of certain bellflowers... Highly fragrant, the flowering is melliferous and attracts butterflies. It is accompanied by deciduous foliage, disappearing in summer and reappearing in late winter. It consists of bright green leaves, 15 to 35cm (6 to 14in) long. The hyacinth reaches a height of 25-30cm (10-12in) at maturity.

Highly appreciated for its early flowering, the hyacinth is one of the few bulbs with large flowers. The 'Twin Pearl' Hyacinth can be grown both in flower borders and in pots or vases. When planted in the ground, it will renew itself for several years, while in a pot, it will only last one season. Plant it in groups to create a mass effect and to create stunning scenes, combine it with other early bulbs such as Tripartite Daffodils whose lemon yellow flowers will contrast vividly with 'Twin Pearl's purplish blue. White or yellow Crocuses will also be good companions in this regard, as well as the small Urumiensis Tulips, a dwarf botanical species with yellow star-shaped flowers. In the background, plant low-growing shrubs that flower early to add volume to your flower bed. Chaenomeles speciosa 'Yukigoten' is a Japanese Quince that blooms with beautiful double white flowers at the same time as your Hyacinth. And to create a third vegetation zone, plant a Stachyurus praecox behind it, a charming and unfairly overlooked shrub that produces strings of small yellow bells early in the season and whose foliage takes on stunning colors in autumn.