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Hyacinth Seeds: Harvesting, Propagation & Buying Guide

Did you know Hyacinths are decorative flowering plants that go back to medieval times and are often used in the Persian New Year?

This beautiful plant offers variedly colored and fragrant blossoms yearly, symbolizing peace, beauty, and pride.

However, they are rarely grown from seeds because it may take years of dedication, but it is not impossible.

Harvest Hyacinth seeds from mature flower pods in April-September, dry them for a fortnight, soak them 24 hours before laying them on a paper towel and refrigeration, then grow in a germination tray at 70-75°F and wait for 1-6 months.

Voila! The Hyacinth seeds will begin germinating and are ready to transplant into individual containers.

Nevertheless, prepare to face the backlash, as about half of the seeds will fail to sprout for many reasons.

Read on to figure out how to prepare Hyacinth seeds to minimize the loss during germination and produce beautiful mature Hyacinths.

Hyacinth Seeds Overview

Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis) is a small spring-blooming perennial plant from the eastern Mediterranean plains.

They came around 1560 from Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon to Europe, but it was much later that they were introduced as houseplants and only owned by wealthy plant lovers.

The Hyacinth species you usually see in the garden or shops are the cultivars of the wild Hyacinth plant.

These cultivars include single Hyacinth, double Hyacinth, multiflora Hyacinth, and Grape Hyacinth, offering vividly colorful blossoms ranging from white, cream, pink, rose, cobalt blue, deep purple, and wine red.

Hyacinth plant with Purple flowers.
Hyacinth bulbs can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves while handling them.

The great thing about Hyacinths is that they exhibit the best colors and intense fragrances and even grow in homes or outdoors with the least effort.

On top of that, they have antioxidant and anticancer properties.

Nevertheless, growing them from seeds can become challenging because Hyacinth bulbs usually produce them.

Most Hyacinths grown from the seeds fail before they can even be germinated.

You heard it right! Successfully propagating Hyacinth seeds would require harvesting mature and viable seeds, properly preparing seedbeds, and a conducive growing environment.

Here is a brief guide about Hyacinth seeds.

ColorBright-green and fleshy (Immature)
Tan colored (Maturing)
Dark or black colored ( Mature)
Size2/3 cm
ShapeOval shaped
Weight-
Blossoming SeasonSpring and Summer
Blossom Color10-inch spikes of star-shaped flowers
Seed Pod
Spent flowers make way for seed pods in a cluster
Harvest SeasonApril to September
Growing TimeAnytime indoors
Spring when grown outdoors

Late Winter or early spring (When grown indoors)
Conducive TemperatureAround 70-75°F (21-23.8 °C) to germinate
Stratification3 months
Germination1-6 months
InflorescenceUp to 5 years

One way to sprout Hyacinth seeds is to treat them and place them in a plastic bag in a refrigerator. Once ready, you can germinate them in a growing medium.

Interestingly, Water Hyacinth seeds produce huge amounts each year that can remain viable for about 30 years.

Otherwise, plant them directly on the growing medium until they germinate.

The Hyacinth flowers will retain their color depending on your chosen cultivar, but you must wait years before they can mature.

Like propagating Gardenia seeds, Hyacinth seed germination tends to be sporadic (occurring at irregular intervals).

How do you Harvest Hyacinth Seeds?

Collecting Hyacinth seeds is relatively simple; you only need to wait for the seed or flower pod to mature before retracting them.

These plants bloom in mid-spring filling the garden with a lovely fragrance, which indicates that the seed is also growing.

They require ideal growing conditions, including full to partial sun, loose and well-drained soil, weekly watering, and temperature over 60°F to blossom.

White and pink hyacinths flowers in sunlight
Hyacinth flowers give out seeds once they begin to flower.

Fertilizing with blossom solution 10-30-20 may help boost flower production.

Hyacinth will begin producing seed pods when it starts blossoming. Once the flower spikes appear, they put energy into creating seeds.

Growers who often nib the flowers in mid-spring will likely fail to get Hyacinth seed pods. Therefore, be wary about pruning the flowers.

Remember, the plant does not self-pollinate, requiring help from garden bugs; hence, only the outdoor-grown Hyacinths will likely produce seeds.

Once they are ready, you will witness brown or dark-looking seed pods just under the magnificent flowers.

Steps for Harvesting Hyacinth Seeds

As mentioned, you must let the Hyacinth flower bloom and avoid pruning the blooming stem to get seed pods.

Look for brown-colored pods in late summer or early autumn, indicating they are mature, but leave them if they are still green and fleshy.

Simply pick them off the plant and split the pod into two to retrieve black seeds. Carefully gather these seeds in a Ziplock bag so you can use them later. 

Storing these seeds is relatively simple. Soak them in fresh water for 24 hours and tap dry using a paper towel. Place another paper towel over them before putting them in a refrigerator.

This will ensure the seeds stay healthy for future use and sprout before germinating.

Note: Wait about 2-3 months to let the seeds sprout.

Hyacinth Seeds for Sale

Do not worry if your Hyacinth fails to blossom or produce seed pods. You can buy these seeds online instead.

However, buy Hyacinth seeds from certified online stores to avoid getting damaged or sprout less seeds.

SellersShipping
ETSYShipping may take at least 5-7 days
EbayShipping may take well over 9 days and more for international courier
WalmartShipping may take 3-4 days for orders over $35
TTHME ShoppingShipping may take 7-9 days
Free Shipping Over $35.
Johnny's Selected SeedsShipping may take 1-2 days
Free shipping over $200

How to Grow Hyacinth from Seeds?

Remember, germinating Hyacinth seeds can be difficult because most seeds fail to sprout.

Not all Hyacinth seeds will pass the stratification; therefore, collect as many seeds as possible to increase the likelihood of germination.

Moreover, the germination process is more sporadic and may take well over 4 to 5 years for the seedling to mature into a flower-bearing plant.

Hyacinth plant with pink flowers
Seeds should be planted in the germination tray to produce healthy saplings.

Therefore, you can cut the process short by propagating the extracted bulb from the healthy Hyacinth plant.

Here is a detailed process if you are determined to germinate Hyacinth seeds at home.

Seeds, Seed Starter Mix, Seed Tray, Gloves, Plastic Bag or Sheet, and a Pot of 2-3 inches are some requirements for successful Hyacinth seeds germination.

Step 1: Prepare the Seed

Freshly extracted Hyacinth seeds need to be prepared before they can be germinated.

  • Known as stratification, the process involves soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for 24 hours to swell their outer layer so the sprout can begin.
  • Retrieve and place them on a paper towel to soak all the remaining water.
  • Immediately place another paper towel over it and keep it in the refrigerator or freezer. The temperature should stay above sub-zero.
  • Check for new green sprouts from the seeds, which would take about 2 to 3 months.

You can continue sprouting the seeds throughout the winter to germinate them in early spring.

Check whether the store brought Hyacinth seeds that are already sprouting. Otherwise, you must soak them in water and store them in the refrigerator to induce sprouting.

Step 2: Germinate the Seed

Start preparing the starter mix, which you can quickly make at home or buy in a supermarket.

  • Mix an equal part of peat moss and perlite and moisten the mix before placing it in the germination kit.
  • Combine about 4 grams of seeds with a small amount of sand to make them easier to sow.
  • Sprinkle the seed and sand mixture over the germination kit and gently press them inside.
  • Add 2 to 3 seeds per section about 1 to 2 inches apart.
  • Afterward, induce a mini greenhouse by covering the tray with a clear plastic bag or cover and placed under LED grow light for 10 to 12 hours.
  • Ensure the temperature stays between 70 to 80°F along with an average of 60% humidity to boost the germination process.
  • To keep them warm, consider slipping the heating pad under the tray for seedlings grown in a cold climate.
Hyacinth seeds germinating in tissues.
You can place your seeds in wet tissues for some days and transfer them into the soil after germination.

Voila! Your Hyacinth seeds are germinated within 5 to 6 months.

Step 3: Transplant the Seedlings

The next step involves transplanting the seedlings into an individual pot.

The seedling will have at least 1 to 2 tiny leaves sprouting out of the mix. It indicates that they are ready to be moved.

  • Start preparing the potting mix containing organic and inorganic matters like potting soil, perlite, and orchid bark.
  • Gently turn the germination tray and slide the seedling out.
  • Ensure to keep the mix well-draining. They are not particular about soil pH.
  • Fill a 3 to 5 inches clay or terracotta pot with the prepared mix.
  • Moisten the mix before placing the seedlings into the pot, and then scoop the mixture on and around the seedlings.
  • Move it to a sunny location, such as outdoors; if it is spring, continue with regular care.
  • These plants can grow well in cold climates like USDA Zone 4 to 8; provide full sun to ensure healthy growth.

The seedlings will not sprout for the first year as they store energy to develop the bulb or root.

When the care and maintenance are ideal and regular, the plant will grow many inches taller and produce green foliage and magnificent flowers.

However, it can take up to six years before some Hyacinth varieties will even develop a flower when growing hyacinth from seed.

Care Tips for Hyacinth Seeds After Germination

Here is a brief guide about caring for Hyacinth seedlings after germination.

CareSpecification
Sunlight1. Provide at least 6-8 hours of full sunlight or partial shade.
2. Avoid low-light areas that may prevent healthy blossoms.
3. When grown indoors, consider providing at least 12-14 hours of lighting
Temperature1. Provide 60°F or above temperature during spring and summer.
2. The saplings prefer a consistent 65°F during the day and 60°F at night.
3. They are quite picky about high temperatures, so avoid growing them in USDA zones 10 or above.
Humidity1. Hyacinth is not too picky about humidity as it prefers a combination of low to moderate temperatures.
2. Provide a relative humidity of around 50% at all times.
3. Regular misting will help achieve moderate humidity for outdoor grown Hyacinth.
Watering1. Do not overwater Hyacinth, they hate staying with "wet feet"
2. Let the top 2-3" of soil dry out between watering.
3. Provide 1/2 inch of water per week in the growing season to the potted plant.
4. Plant grown in garden will require at least 3x more amount of watering.
4. Water every 20-25 days in the fall and winter
Fertilization1. Provide a scant handful of balanced dry garden fertilizer in spring.
2. Use fertilizer with NPK 10-10-10 to feed the bulbs for healthier growth.
3. Avoid fertilizing immediately after blossoming to avoid problems.

From Editorial Team

Conclusion!

Early growers believed that Hyacinth symbolizes the flower of the sun god Apollo and advocates peace and beauty.

And they were not wrong because this plant is widely used for decorating venues and events.

Carefully harvest, stratify, and germinate Hyacinth seeds to ensure most of them grow further.

Furthermore, letting the seeds mature on the mother plant before sowing them would be the best practice for Grape Hyacinth.

However, be patient and continue the regular care to keep your Hyacinth on the right track until they blossom in the next 4-5 years.

Good Luck!

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