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When to plant hyacinths in Ann Arbor: 6 October – 30 November

In Ann Arbor, hyacinth: plant from 6 October to about 30 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include The Farm at Trinity Health - Ann Arbor (farm shop, 9 km) and Growing Hope Center (farm shop, 11 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Hyacinth in Ann Arbor: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -6.8 °C.

Planting6 October – 30 November
First autumn frost5 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -6.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring9 February
Daylight11:33 on 6 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:05

The same dates in Ann Arbor hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Crocus.

Hyacinth in Ann Arbor: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant hyacinths 10 cm deep, at least 7.5 cm apart (RHS). In the ground hyacinths are fully hardy, but in containers they can be frost tender in cold winters (RHS); here winter nights average below 0 °C, so wrap the pots or move them to a sheltered spot.

In Ann Arbor the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 12–15 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Flowers get smaller in the years after planting: for full spikes, replace the bulbs or add a few new ones each autumn (RHS).

If squirrels are a problem, protect the bulbs with wire mesh (RHS). Hyacinths are toxic to dogs, cats and horses: intense vomiting and diarrhoea (ASPCA).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, ASPCA.

Hyacinth in nearby cities

Around Ann Arbor, Lansing is 3 days earlier and Cleveland 16 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Detroit58 km8 October – 7 December2 days later
Lansing82 km3 October – 29 November3 days earlier
Grand Rapids174 km4 October – 29 November2 days earlier
Fort Wayne176 km3 October – 10 December3 days earlier
Cleveland191 km22 October – 23 December16 days later
Columbus266 km3 October – 25 December3 days earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Ann Arbor

Planting stock goes into the ground from 6 October to about 30 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ann Arbor OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 plant nurseries, 10 markets and 5 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant hyacinths in Ann Arbor?

In Ann Arbor, hyacinth: plant from 6 October to about 30 November. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Ann Arbor?

Last spring frost around 28 April, first autumn frost around 5 November.

Other crops in Ann Arbor, with their dates