Hyacinthus x orientalis Améthyste

The Amethyst Hyacinth will charm with its uncommon colour as well as the scent of its flowers. This hybrid hyacinth displays large spikes of single flowers in spring, sporting a hue intermediate between magenta pink and deep purple, which can be described as dark lilac. Evoking the wonderful eponymous bush with its colour, its cluster perfumes the air with the same intensity, from the first warm days of April. This bulbous plant can be adopted both in the garden, in fertile and fresh, but well-drained soil, and in a pot for winter flowering in the house.

If the Oriental Hyacinth is almost no longer cultivated, this graceful species with small spikes of blue flowers originating from the Middle East and Mediterranean regions has given rise to countless cultivars called Dutch Hyacinths, highly appreciated in gardens for their deliciously scented spring flowering or in floristry for their forcing ability. This naturalized botanical species can be found in France in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes, and Lot-et-Garonne.

The Amethyst Hyacinth, just like it, belongs to the family of hyacinthaceae, or asparagaceae. This old variety dates back to before 1950. It has a large oval bulb and forms a tuft of bright green ribbon-like leaves from spring onwards. From March to April, a robust floral stem, 20 cm (8in) long, emerges, bearing 30 to 40 star-shaped flowers, 2 to 4cm (1 to 2in) long, tightly packed together, with a thick and waxy substance, and a sweet fragrance. The flowering is melliferous, attracting butterflies. It is accompanied by deciduous foliage, disappearing in summer and reappearing in late winter. It consists of bright green leaves, 15 to 35 cm (6 to 14in) long. The hyacinth measures 25-30 cm (10-12in) in height at maturity.

Among early flowering plants, the hyacinth is one of the few bulbs with large flowers. The Amethyst Hyacinth can be grown both in the border of a bed and in pots or vases. In the ground, it will renew itself for several years. In a pot, it will only last one season. Reserve a prominent place for it in the garden, not far from the entrance of the house to enjoy its fragrance with every passing. It will bring spectacular splashes of colour to your beds. Hyacinths can easily be paired with other early bulbs such as Chionodoxas, Ipheions, Zephyrantes, hybrid crocus, or early-flowering Tulips. Their flowers are edible, raw or 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 a delicacy that could be found under the name of "candied Constantinople hyacinths".