Muscari Bulbs: the Essentials
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Muscari is a type of perennial plant that grows from bulb, originally coming from Eurasia. It is now widely grown within the UK and can be found in many gardens and borders, adding a splash of colour in the month of April when it will flower. Plan Muscari bulbs in the autumn ready for them to flower in spring, when their vibrant blue colour will bring brightness to any garden.
Muscari is also known as the grape hyacinth, and they are most commonly blue in colour. However they can come in various other colours, including white, pink and purple. There are many varieties of Muscari bulb, including Heavenly Blue, Dark Eyes, Neglectum, Pink Sunrise, White Magic, Big Smile and Touch of Snow. There are also Muscari, that come in a particularly delicate shade of blue and white. Muscari tend to be quite small and can look attractive when paired with daffodils, tulips, lilies and any other taller flowering plants that will sit alongside them.
A general introduction to growing Muscari bulbs: the basics before planting
What should be taken into account before planting and growing Muscari bulbs? Here are some of the basics to consider:
- Muscari are very easy to grow, so don’t be concerned about them needing lots of attention. They will grow in almost any type of soil without having a major preference for loamy, well draining etc.
- Muscari will need to get enough sunlight. They can cope with some shade in summer but should have enough sunlight during spring when they begin to flower. Think about the positioning of them in the garden and check that their sun won’t be blocked completely by the other tall plants around them.
- It’s important to give Muscari enough space. Allow around 15cm between plants to give them room to grow.
- Plant Muscari bulbs about 10cm deep. The hole they are planted in should be about three times deeper than the height of the bulb, so it might need to be dug deeper depending on the size of the bulbs.
- Check the quality of the bulbs before planting. They should feel dry and shouldn’t have any soft patches. It’s easy to tell when a bulb isn’t fresh or in good condition – if in doubt, don’t plant it as it won’t grow.
Where to plant Muscari bulbs: where will they thrive?
It isn’t difficult to find a suitable place to plant Muscari bulbs and they will do very well in many places. They can be planted in various places around the garden, including in borders and on lawns. They will naturalise very easily, so can be planted almost anywhere. They will also look very good in rockeries, adding a dash of colour and rising proudly amongst other rockery plants such as succulents and cacti.
It’s possible to use grape hyacinths in small flower arrangements as well, perhaps with pansies and other small flowers for maximum effect. As these plants naturalise, they can be harvested and will keep growing back healthily each year.