Scientific Name:
Muscari armeniacum
Pronunciation:
muss-KAIR-ee ar-mee-nee-AY-kum
Common Name:
grape hyacinth
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Plant Type:
Flowering pot plant, Herbaceous perennial
Key ID Features:
Leaves narrow, basal, to 30cm long, dying back before summer; florets deep violet blue, urn-shaped (grape-like), slightly fragrant (musky-sweet), 20-40 on conical racemes on scapes rising up to 20cm in early spring, 1-3 per bulb.
Habit:
Arching
Form:
Oval - vertical, Vase
Texture:
Medium - fine
Mature Height:
0.1 - 0.2m
Mature Spread:
0.1 - 0.3m
Growth Rate:
Fast
Origin:
Central / west Asia, Europe
Hardiness Rating:
Zone 4: (-34 to -29 °C)
Exposure:
Full sun, Part sun/part shade
Soil/Growing Medium:
Well-drained
Landscape Uses:
Fragrance, Group or mass planting, Indoor plant, Perennial border, Rock garden, Spring interest
Additional Info:
Google. Cultivars shown or on campus may include M. 'Blue Spike', M. 'Paradoxum', M. 'Pink Sunrise', and M. 'Valerie Finnis'. Compare to M. latifolium.
Leaf Morphology:
Form:
Grass-like
Arrangement:
Basal
Texture/Venation:
Soft flexible
Surfaces:
Glabrous
Shapes:
Linear
Apices:
Acute
Bases:
Truncate
Margins:
Entire
Inflorescence Type:
Raceme, Floriferous
Flower Morphology:
Flowers perfect
Number Of Petals:
3
Corolla Shape:
Urceolate
Ovary Position:
Superior
Colour (petals):
Showy, Blue, Purple
Flower Scent:
Sweet, Musky
Flower Time at Peak:
Mar, Apr
Additional Info:
Scent of grape juice
Fruit Type:
Capsule
Fruit Colour:
Brown
Fruiting Time:
May, Jun
Additional Info:
Not showy
Bark or Stem Colour:
Organ Modifications:
Bulbs
Propagation:
Division - below ground parts
Optimal Temp.:
Low
Light Level:
Medium
Maintenance:
Low
Pest Susceptibility:
(Pest resistant, Disease resistant, Deer resistant, Rabbit resistant)
Course(s):
- HORT 1193/1293
Location(s):
- (BCE) Boulevard (Circular) Eastend : labyrinth
- (BUG) BUG garden
- (HPZ) Horticulture PlaZa
- (MCF) Main Courtyard Fountain
- (ONW) Overpass North side West
- (PPL) Pine PLanting