Hyacinthus x orientalis General Kohler

Hyacinthus orientalis 'General Kohler' is a hybrid hyacinth introduced in 1878, still highly appreciated for its reliability and the sweet fragrance of its beautiful double flower spike. The flowers open in a fairly bright blue and fade to a lavender-blue hue over the course of several days. Its star-shaped triangular flowers, which appear frosted, are darker in the center and streaked with a soft blue-violet, creating a lovely range of pastel blue tones that complement the whites and yellows of the botanical narcissus. The voluptuous and highly floral fragrance of hyacinths wafts through the garden on calm, warm days. It rises from the ground like a mist, seemingly coming from nowhere.

Although the Oriental Hyacinth is no longer widely cultivated, this species, native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, has given rise to countless cultivars that are highly valued in gardens for their delightful spring flowering or in floristry for their forcing ability. This botanical species, well-adapted to dry soils in summer, can be found naturalized in France in the Bouches-du-Rhône, Var, Alpes-Maritimes, and Lot-et-Garonne. Hyacinths belong to the family Hyacinthaceae or Asparagaceae, depending on the classification.

The 'General Kohler' hyacinth takes the form of a large oval bulb, which stores its reserves and gives rise to a clump of bright green ribbon-like leaves in spring. Then, in March-April, a sturdy flower stem emerges, reaching 20 cm (8in) in height and bearing numerous double, star-shaped flowers tightly packed together. These flowers have a thick, translucent substance and are lavender-blue with a slightly darker center, emitting a sweet fragrance. The foliage is deciduous in summer and reappears in late winter.

Among early bloomers, the hyacinth is one of the few bulbs with large flowers. Reserve a prominent place for it in the garden, near the entrance of the house or on the terrace, to enjoy its fragrance with every passing. In addition to its fragrance, it will bring spectacular spots of colour to your flower beds, among the spring-green euphorbias or lady's mantles. Hyacinths can easily be paired with other early bulbs such as Chionodoxas, Ipheions, hybrid crocuses, or early-flowering Tulipa humilis. Their flowers are edible, both raw and cooked, and have a slightly mucilaginous texture. They can be crystallized with sugar or added to fruit salads, according to personal preference. In the past, they were considered a delicacy and could be found under the name of "candied hyacinths of Constantinople."