When to plant hyacinths in Billings: 14 September – 23 November

In Billings, hyacinth: plant from 14 September to about 23 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Roots Garden Center (garden centre, 6 km) and Walmart Garden Center (garden centre, 7 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 Billings: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in November–March; the coldest, February, averages -9.8 °C.

Planting	14 September – 23 November
First autumn frost	14 October
Coldest nights	February, -9.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring	25 February
Daylight	12:39 on 14 September
Daylight at the winter solstice	8:40

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

Hyacinth in Billings: 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 Billings the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 28 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

1 of the nearest cities share Billings's date.

City	Distance	Date	Difference
Helena	287 km	3 September – 5 November	11 days earlier
Idaho Falls	377 km	14 September – 14 November	same day
Missoula	441 km	6 September – 12 November	8 days earlier
Rapid City	457 km	12 September – 28 November	2 days earlier
Regina	594 km	6 September – 22 October	8 days earlier
Cheyenne	595 km	13 September – 4 December	1 day earlier

Where to buy hyacinth for planting in Billings

Planting stock goes into the ground from 14 September to about 23 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Billings OpenStreetMap lists 7 garden centres, 11 farm-supply shops, 3 plant nurseries and 4 markets (collected 20 October 2026).

Western Ranch Supply — farm supply
10 km
Gainan's Heights Flowers & Garden — plant nursery
5 km
Canyon Creek Nursery — plant nursery
12 km
Good Earth Works Co & Nursery — plant nursery
12 km
Walmart Garden Center — garden centre
King Avenue West 2525, 59102 Billings · Mon–Sun 06:00–23:00 · 7 km · walmart.com
Roots Garden Center — garden centre
Poly Drive 2147, Billings · Mon–Sun 09:00–17:00 · 6 km
Walmart Garden Center — garden centre
6 km
Billings Hardware Garden Center — garden centre
7 km

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