Muscari
Hyacinthaceae
Grape Hyacinth
They are mostly low-growing bulbs which have mid-green linear leaves with an inner channel which arise from the bulb. The flowers are formed as spikes on the ends of upright stalks. Flower colours are typically pale blue through to deep blue and in some species the lower flowers are a slightly different shape to the upper ones, e.g. more rounded or double as opposed to single, and they may be darker coloured. Most flower between spring to early summer.
Uses
Rockeries, border plants, edging plants, cut flowers.
Culture
They grow well in most free-draining soils. They need full sun to thrive since shade increases foliage growth at the expense of flowers.
Propagation
They may be divided every few years by separating and re-planting bulbils after the leaves have died back. Alternatively, seeds may be sown once ripe towards the end of summer. Seedlings usually take several years to produce flowers.
Cultivars
A range of cultivars are grown including:
M. armeniacum - to 20-25cm tall. They bear dense flower spikes of dark blue flowers with white edges in late spring to early summer. Several named varieties exist.
M. botryoides - to 15-20cm tall. They bear sky blue flower spikes in early to late spring. The individual flowers are very rounded. M. b. 'Album' is a white form.
M. latifolium - to 23-30cm tall. These produce dense racemes of purplish-blue flowers which are paler at the top of the raceme. The flower stalk is enclosed by one or two broad leaves.
M. macrocarpum - to 15-23cm tall. These have fragrant yellow flowers with a brown mouth and glaucous leaves.
Plant Health
They are sometimes prone to smut which can cause flowers parts to become covered in black spores. There are no pest problems of note.
More info
There are more than 40 species of these plants which come from the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe and North Africa as well as Western and Central Asia.