Hyacinthus x orientalis Pink Pearl

The 'Pink Pearl' Hyacinth or Hyacinthus orientalis is an excellent variety of hybrid hyacinth, awarded by the prestigious R.H.S in England for its numerous qualities. Its beautiful clusters, where many single star-shaped flowers are tightly packed, are a vibrant pink tinged with fuchsia, with each petal edged in pale pink. Their thick and waxy texture appears iridescent in full sunlight. Its flowers, both in the garden and in a vase, fill the garden or terrace with fragrance from the first warm days of spring. This variety is particularly suited to forcing for winter flowering indoors.

While Hyacinthus orientalis is no longer widely cultivated, this species native to the Middle East and Mediterranean regions has given rise to countless cultivars highly appreciated in gardens for their delightful spring flowering, or in floristry for their suitability for forcing. This botanical species can be found naturalised in parts of Europe.

The 'Pink Pearl' hyacinth, like the species, belongs to the hyacinthaceae or asparagaceae family. It is a variety dating back to 1922, still widely planted in gardens. It has a large oval bulb and forms a clump of wide, bright green ribbon-like leaves from spring onwards. From March to April, a robust floral stem, 20-25 cm (8-10in) long, emerges, bearing 20 to 40 star-shaped flowers with a thick, translucent texture in various shades of pink with a sweet fragrance. The foliage is deciduous in summer and reappears in late winter.

Among early flowerings, the hyacinth is one of the few bulbs with large flowers. Give it a prominent place 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 borders. Hyacinths can easily be paired with other early bulbs such as Chionodoxas, Anemone blanda, botanical crocuses, or early-flowering Tulipa humilis. Their flowers are edible, raw or cooked, and have a slightly mucilaginous texture. Depending on preference, they can be candied or added to fruit salads. In the past, they were a delicacy that could be found under the name of "candied Constantinople hyacinths".