Easter Basket Hyacinths sampler    

Sampler

Sample the rich colors and fragrances of these under-appreciated treasures. Easy to force and great in the garden in zones 5a-8a(10bWC). We’ll send five different singles, our choice, all terrific!

For 2, 3, or more of each, order additional samplers. Hyacinth care.

Anna Liza hyacinth     1972

Rarest

Mauve? Lavender-pink? Soft rosy violet? The color may be hard to describe, but ‘Anna Liza’ is both distinctive and beautiful. And though it’s not very old, true stock is increasingly hard to find – so here it is! 10-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

City of Haarlem hyacinth     1893

The wonderfully soft, baby-chick yellow of ‘City of Haarlem’ makes every hyacinth rainbow lovelier. Named for the bulb district’s grandest city, ‘Haarlem’ has been a favorite for well over a century. 10-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

Fondant hyacinth     1983

Every bit as sweet as its name, “Fondant” is a pure apple-blossom pink and (according to Cornell scientists) one of the best hyacinths to perennialize – and its delightful fragrance will perfume your garden in the springtime. 8-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart, care, and learn more.

Gypsy Queen hyacinth     1927

“If I could grow only one hyacinth,” wrote Rand Lee in The American Cottage Gardener, “it would be this.” He praised its “luminous” apricot color, the “melon undertone” of its “considerable fragrance,” and how it “naturalizes effortlessly” in his dry, zone-6a Santa Fe garden. 10-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.

Minos hyacinth     1980

Named after the Greek-mythic son of Zeus and Europa, ‘Minos’ brings a touch of mystery to the hyacinth bed. He was the king of Crete while alive and a judge in the underworld after his death, and his fragrant namesake can be as blue as the Aegean sea or a deeper lilac-blue that hints of eternal mysteries. 8-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart, care, and learn more.

Roman Pink hyacinth     1573

Rarest

Like all true Roman hyacinths, this soft pink charmer is fragrant, graceful, and – maybe best of all – it will multiply into a clump that gets bigger and more beautiful every year. A little less cold-hardy than regular hyacinths – zones 6a-8a(10bWC), 8-10”, from the Hortus Bulborum. Chart and care.

Roman White hyacinth     1597

Rarest

After decades of searching, we’d all but given up hope of ever offering true white Roman hyacinths, but our prayers were finally answered by the Hortus Bulborum! Once so popular they were exported by the millions from the south of France, white Romans are graceful, deliciously fragrant, slightly less cold-hardy than regular hyacinths – zones 6a-8a(10bWC), 8-10”, from the Hortus Bulborum– and they multiply eagerly! Chart and care.

Splendid Cornelia hyacinth     1984

When our friend Alan Shipp described this variety as being “a lovely lilac and one of my favourites,” we knew we had to have it! Its unusual color will add delightful accents to your spring bouquets while its sweet fragrance enchants your nose. As Alan told us, “You will love it!” 8-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart, care, and learn more.

White Pearl hyacinth     1954

Tests at Cornell University rated this mid-century beauty one of the ten best hyacinths for perennializing, and – unlike older, widely available, but scentless ‘Carnegie’ – it smells good! 10-12”, zones 5a-8a(10bWC), from Holland. Chart and care.