Hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis) are beautiful additions to southern gardens. They offer vibrant floral color with tall spikes of showy flowers and bright green foliage. Hyacinths belong to the asparagus family. They are perennials that produce showy, fragrant flowers that you will look forward to blooming with every year. Read on to learn more about hyacinths and how to plant, grow, and care for them anywhere, including your gardens, containers, and windowsills.

Hyacinthus orientalis, or common hyacinth, is a fragrant flowering plant that blooms in early to mid-spring. Hyacinths produce showy flowers in shades of blue, purple, white, pink and red. The flowers appear in thick clusters on tall spikes; Each spike has small, very fragrant, bell-shaped flowers. Long, light green leaves form around the base of the plant.

As beautiful as hyacinth bulbs are, they can cause skin irritation. The plant’s bulbs are partly made of calcium oxalate crystals, which act as spikes invisible to the eye. They can cause microscopic breaks in the skin that cause itching and irritation, so be sure to wear gloves or wash your hands thoroughly after handling onions and before touching your skin, face, or eyes. Hyacinths are also poisonous to pets.