Shades of pink to expect
Pink hyacinths cover a wide band: shell pink, soft candy and a deeper rose that edges towards red. The tightly packed bells are waxy, and the scent is sweet and a little spicy. Because pink sits happily with white, blue and purple hyacinths, it is a common pick for a mixed bowl.
When they flower and how to time them
Pink forms follow the same calendar as other hyacinths in Australia. Bulbs planted in April or May give flowers from August into spring, which lines up neatly with Father's Day in early September. Gardeners in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth should chill bulbs in the fridge for six to eight weeks before planting, because winters there rarely get cold enough. Cooler places such as Tasmania, Victoria and the Canberra region need no special treatment beyond good drainage.
- Plant about three bulb heights deep in garden beds.
- Use a gritty mix in pots, with a hole in the base.
- Feed lightly once the shoots are up; heavy feeding makes leaves floppy.
Bulbs left over
When flowering finishes, snip the spike and leave the foliage until it yellows. Colour usually holds from year to year, but spikes get looser, so many gardeners add fresh bulbs each autumn.
Bulbs, paws and bare hands
The ASPCA rates hyacinth as toxic for dogs, cats and horses, with the bulb the most dangerous part. Contact with the bulb can also irritate bare hands. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 if a person has eaten any.
