GRAPE HYACINTH SPRING BULBS MAKE OUTSTANDING BORDER PLANTS

Grape Hyacinthus Spring Bulb Is Easy to Grow

The techincal name for the grape hyacinth spring bulbs is Muscari. They are easy to grow with some precautions to be noted. They obtain a height of around 10 inches and can be as much as eight inches wide. They have a grassy foilage and flowers that look like tiny grapes. They bloom in the earliest of spring for a brief two-three weeks so if you are still on a winter vacation you may miss them. They are grown in zones 4-8.

One problem that you may have to tolerate is that the foilage emerges in the late fall. This makes it suspectible to frost damage and,though it will not damage the flowers,it remains visible during the flowering period. As I write this web page I can testify to the fact that the foilage is up and is a beautiful deep green.

A beautiful border of grape hyacinthus spring bulbs

I am sure you will not have a row like this one. The point here is to illustrate the fact that you need to plant the grape hyacinth spring bulbs in a large grouping or they become lost in the field of emerging spring flowers. I planted these in front of the much taller and dramatic hyacinths and one season flowed into the other. Depending on your climate and location,you may get both at the same time.

GRAPE HYACINTH SPRING BULBS NEED THE PROPER LOCATION

The grape hyacinth spring bulbs maybe planted under trees where they receive sun before the leaves come into play,or in rock gardens,pots or as mentioned above with other bulbs. When you are planting the bulbs envision how a cluster would look not just an indiviual bulb. Place your bulbs where they will not take on too much dampness during the winter. This will help in avoiding the rotting of the bulbs.

The grape hyacinth bulbs do enjoy full sun to partial shade. However,in hot climates,plant them where they will be shaded as this will increase the length of the blooming time.The soil itself should be rich and fertile and it would definitely be a good idea to add some compost.

I know how anxious gardeners are to rid themselves of the dying foliage of a plant. Let it settle into good,dead,and dry then it should come up without tearing. A word to note here if you insist on pulling it too early you will not only jeopardize next years crop,but you can pull the bulb straight out of the soil. This is not a happy sight. The most significant species are

MUSCARI ARMENIACCUM
MUSCARI BOTRYOIDES 'ALBUM'
MUSCARI COMOSUM'PLUMOSUM'
MUSCARI LATIFOLIUM