How to Grow Muscari Plants

Guide to Growing Grape Hyacinth, Tassel Hyacinth, and Baby's breath.

Muscari are grown from bulbs and reach a height of between 10 and 20 cm.

This small size makes them ideal for use in rock gardens, or for growing below taller plants such as shrubs.

The minute spherical Muscari flowers of white, blue, or purple that are clustered atop a leafless stem; these bloom in the spring.

Common names for Muscari include Grape Hyacinth and Tassel Hyacinth.

Muscari
Muscari photograph by Jess Beemouse.

Muscari armeniacum
Muscari armeniacum (Grape hyacinth) picture by TANAKA Juuyoh.

Muscari Growing and Care Guide

Common Names: Grape Hyacinth, Tassel Hyacinth, Baby's breath, Bluebell.
Life Cycle: Hardy bulb.
Height: 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm).
Native: Mediterranean. Central Europe. Central and Western Asia. Naturalized to Northern America and Europe.
Growing Region: Zones 4 to 8.
Flowers: Spring.
Flower Details: White, purple, Dark blue. Tiny. Spherical. Clustered.
Foliage: Blade. Leafless stem. Green.
Grow Outside: Usually grown from bulbs.
Seeds: Cover. Summer from fresh seed. Germination time: 6 to 8 weeks. Seeds should first be sown into flats. Next sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass/plastic covering until sprouting has occurred. Keep an eye on the flats to ensure that the soil remains moist and to check if seedlings have emerged. After one year of growth, transplant the bulbs to their final location in the autumn with a spacing 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 cm).
Bulbs: 3 inches deep (8 cm). Autumn.
Sow Inside: No.
Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade. Good drainage. Ordinary soil. Regular watering during dry periods. Supply an autumn mulch of manure. Divide after 3 or 4 years to maintain vigor. Propagate: by dividing bulblets in summer. Or Self-seed.
Family: Asparagaceae.
Closely Related Species: Asparagus, Yucca, and Agave.
Miscellaneous: One of the earliest species to come into bloom in the spring.

How to Grow Grape Hyacinth

It is best to grow Grape hyacinth from bulbs in the autumn, these should be burried about 8cm deep and spaced about 5 to 6 cm apart.

Grape Hyacinth and other Muscari are able to grow in both sunny and partially shaded areas; the soil should be well drained and slightly acidic to neutral (ph 6 to 7).

If you plan to grow Grape Hyacinth plants from seeds then sow them into flats. Lightly cover the seed, then sink the flat into a shady part of the garden; cover with glass. It can take from six to nine weeks to germinate. Once seedlings have emerged remove the glass cover, and allow to grow for a further year. The bulb can then be transplanted in the autumn.

Caring for Muscari Plants

It is fairly easy to look after Grape Hyacinth and other Muscari plants, they should be watered in dry periods, and mulched with manure every autumn.

It is best to divide the plants every four years to maintain vigorous growth. If you require more Muscari then they can be propagated by dividing the bulblets in the summer time.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Muscari plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Veltheimia and Yucca aloifolia plants.