"Muscari - Grape      Hyacinth"

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About Muscari

Muscari is commonly known as Grape Hyacinth. The name Muscari comes from the Arabian word 'muscarimi', which itself is derived from the Greek word 'moschos' referring to the fragrance of certain species. The common name of Grape Hyacinth refers to the tight flower spike which resembles a cluster of upside-down grapes. They are in the same family as the Hyacinth - Liliaceae.

Muscari have tiny, tubular or flask-shaped flowers, most with constricted mouths, densely clustered on a terminal spike. The blooms come in shades of blue, purple, lilac, white, yellow, and greeny-yellow, according to species. Blue flowers often have white rims. The Grape Hyacinth grows 4-12 inches (10-30 cm) high, and flowers March-May, depending on the species. Some Muscari blooms are fragrant.

The genus Muscari consists of about 30 species, growing from sea level to sub-alpine areas. Many of these, such as M. botryoides and M. comosum, come from the Mediterranean region, while others of this genus are native to Asia Minor and the Caucasus, extending into Russia and Iran. The Grape Hyacinth has been grown in the United Kingdom since the 16th century.

Grape Hyacinth cut flowers are available in spring. It is best to buy Muscari flowers when only a few of the lower florets have started to open.

Care of Muscari Cut Flowers

Unpack your Muscari flowers straightaway. Use a clean vase and fill it with clean lukewarm water.

Cut off about 1 inch (2.5cm) from the bottom of the flower stems, with the stem bases under water. Make the cut at an angle so that the flower stems do not rest flat on the bottom of the vase. This helps maintain water uptake. Arrange your flowers in the vase so that they are attractively displayed.

Keep Grape Hyacinth blooms in a cool place and out of direct sunlight. Avoid draughts which will dehydrate the flowers. They do not like very hot or cold areas. Check the water level regularly and top up the vase with lukewarm water.

Muscari flowers will last from 4 to 6 days in the vase. It is possible to use Grape Hyacinth blooms for dried flowers.

Growing Muscari

In the garden the Grape Hyacinth can be grown in rock gardens, beds, the front of borders, amongst shrubs, under trees, or in containers. They are easily naturalized in the garden, and will multiply steadily from year to year. Muscari are truly no-care, 'plant and forget', spring flowering bulbs. They can also be used for indoor forcing in September for flowers in January to March.

The strap-shaped, dark green leaves often appear in late August or early September before winter sets in. They remain green throughout most winters. Severe frost may damage the foliage, and this may persist through to flowering. Grape Hyacinth flowers themselves are seldom damaged. And the bulbs of most species are hardy. You can grow Muscari bulbs in USDA zones 3 - 9, except for M. latifolium which prefers USDA zones 2 to 5. Most species naturalize readily in climatic zones 4 - 8.

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Grow Muscari bulbs in soil which drains well and is not waterlogged in winter. The ideal soil is a rich, deep, sandy loam. They are best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Plant Grape Hyacinth bulbs in September-October at least 3 inches (7.5 cm) deep and 4 inches (10 cm) apart. They look best in a mass planting, or in wavy drifts, or flanking a path.

Allow the leaves to die down completely before removal in early Summer. If you do not want the plants to spread by self-sown seed, it is also a good idea to conserve their energy by cutting off the dead flowers to stop seed-heads forming.

Divide clumps in the fall every 3 years, and replant the Muscari bulbs straight away. Propagation is usually by separation of bulb offsets, and also from seed.

Types of Muscari

There are about 30 different species of Muscari, providing variety in color and form. But only 4 or 5 species are widely available. The main species are described below :

Muscari ambrosiacum bears purple blooms in May. These fade to pale green, and then cream as they mature.

M. armeniacum is the usual species grown. It blooms in a dense spike of rich, dark blue flowers, with white rims. Varieties come in different shades of blue, and also in white. It is fragrant. Also called the Armenian Grape Hyacinth.

M. aucheri (synonym M. tubergenianum) is the Oxford and Cambridge Grape Hyacinth. The flowers are pale blue at the top of the spike with dark blue blooms underneath.

M. azureum has more open, dark-striped, bright blue flowers in March; variety album is white.

M. botryoides bears nearly spherical, light blue flowers with white toothed rims. They resemble a cluster of tiny berries. Hence the name botryoides which translates as 'like a bunch of small grapes'. Variety album is white.

M. comosum is the Tassel or Feather Grape Hyacinth. It has large and feathery, violet blooms, resembling a mass of purple threads. Flowering in May. Height is 12 inch (30 cm).

M. latifolium carries a dense spike of tiny, bell-shaped, blackish-violet to blackish-blue flowers with constricted mouths.

M. macrocarpum bears brown-rimmed, yellow flowers in May.

M. moschatum (The Musk Hyacinth) has a delicate, musky fragrance and yellow flowers.

M. neglectum (synonym M. racemosum) is the Branched Grape Hyacinth. It bears dense clusters of egg-shaped flowers of a deep- or blackish-blue, with white-rimmed mouths.

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