Question From: L. Wilkins - Columbus, Michigan, United States
Q: Hello Nancy, I am Liesl. I am seven years old and live in Michigan. I am doing a report on Hyacinth flowers. My question is... How old do Hyacinths live to be?
A: Hi Liesl, There is not a simple answer to this question. I have Hyacinths that have bloomed every spring for the past 10 years. They are planted in an area that has 4 inches of rich soil layered over gravel. The gravel provides good drainage that is necessary to keep the bulbs from rotting. They are never fertilized or watered in summer. After they bloom I remove the spent flowers so the plants do not use energy to set seed. The leaves are left on the plant until they turn yellow, several weeks after they flower. The leaves make the energy to keep the bulbs flowering. The folks at Old House Gardens (Ann Arbor, MI), seller of antique bulbs tell me specie Hyacinths can live 25 years under the right conditions. But the hybrids you buy in garden centers today usually last only a couple of years. Hope this helps. Best And Happy Yardening, Nancy
