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Starch grape hyacinth Muscari atlanticum

Other Common Name(s):

Previously known as:

  • Muscari neglectum
Phonetic Spelling
mus-KAR-ee at-LAN-tik-um
Description

Grape hyacinth is a bulb in the lily family featuring pretty, purple, edible flowers that taste like bitter grapes.  Its hollow leaves resemble onion or garlic but do not have the same odor.  The leaves grow only from the base of the plant.  They form into clumps.  

The root structure encompasses the bulb, corm, enlarged stem and nutlet.  

Bulbs should be planted in the fall, spacing 3" apart and 2" deep in well-drained soil.  This long-lived plant is ideal for planting in masses as edging, in rock gardens or in containers.  When the clumps become crowded, they can be dug up and divided.  They will self sow.  

Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:    No serious issues.  

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#deer resistant#groundcover#naturalizes#cutting garden#HS302
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#bulb#deer resistant#groundcover#naturalizes#cutting garden#HS302
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Muscari
    Species:
    atlanticum
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    Europe and SW Asia
    Edibility:
    The flowers are edible.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Ground Cover
    Herbaceous Perennial
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Edible
    Fragrant
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Spring
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Shape:
    Linear
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    The hollow leaves range from 5" to 16" in length and grow from the base of the plant.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Landscape Theme:
    Cottage Garden
    Edible Garden
    English Garden
    Rock Garden