Expert: Long Island Gardener - 1/27/2008

Question
Hi,I have some Hyacinthe flowers bought in small pots,delft blue. I beleive they are a good substitute for air freshners, how long will the floweres be in bloom?how to care for them? cuold you suggest any other plants for this purpose.  Kind regards,  brian

Answer
There's nothing like a room filled with the fragrance of Hyacinths.  Yes, they are wonderful -- but consider yourself lucky to have a fragrant specimen, because many are faint of fragrance or completely fragrance-free.

They last longer in a cool room, the cooler the better -- problematic of course because it's Winter, and you are indoors to be WARM.  But avoid the radiator.  Bright Sun during the day raises the production of scent, but the plant must also have sufficient moisture to release it.  A cold rest at night will extend life and build up reserves for the next day's fragrance production.

There are many scented plants, and if you are in the North, you'll be familiar with lots of them.  Fragrant Purple Lilacs and a few White hybrids ('Beauty of Moscow') are no longer common; there are plenty of Lilacs in fact that have no fragrance, so if you have a plot and want to grow Lilacs, remember to obtain only the most fragrant kinds, preferably that you have visited while in bloom to make sure you don't get a dud.

Cestrum Nocturnum is a houseplant that blooms in the dark and emits a strong, unique fragrance.  You can purchase baby plants from Logee's in Danielson, Connecticut, by mail order -- or visit them in person.  Cestrum is very easy to care for, grows fast, and blooms quickly.

Paperwhite Narcissus are popular with some people this time of year, but others detest the fragrance.  Apparently this is a genetically programmed taste.  Other Narcissus can be lightly scented; the most fragrant are Jonquils and the larger hybrids, including Sir Winston Churchill (a double Narcissus).  It is not likely to be available in bloom, however, and can be tricky to grow.  Trust me, I don't always have that much luck.

Many others abound.  If you supply your location and more details, I'll narrow it down.  rsvp and thanks for your question.