Grape hyacinth Muscari atlanticum
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Grape hyacinth:
Previously known as:
- Muscari neglectum
- Phonetic Spelling
- mus-KAR-ee at-LAN-tik-um
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Grape hyacinth is a bulb in the aspargus family, native to Spain and Morocco, and featuring pretty, purple, edible flowers that emerge in the spring and taste like bitter grapes. Its hollow leaves resemble onion or garlic but do not have the same odor. The leaves first appear in the fall and grow only from the base of the plant. These plants will form into clumps. The root structure encompasses the bulb, corm, enlarged stem and nutlet.
Bulbs should be planted in the fall, spacing 3 inches apart and 2 inches deep in well-drained soil and sited in full sun to partial shade. Grape hyacinth tolerates most soil types, including clay. Keep the soil moist during the spring growing season, but reduce watering after foliage begins to die back. Plants will remain dormant from late spring to autumn when leaves again appear.
While native to the western Mediterranean, Grape hyacinths grow especially well in the southern United State.This long-lived plant is ideal for planting in masses as edging, in rock gardens or in containers. When the clumps become crowded or to revitalize the plants, they can be dug up and divided. They will self sow.
The Clemson Home and Garden Information Center has a fact sheet on planting and tending bulbs, including Grape hyacinth.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems:
No serious issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Muscari
- Species:
- atlanticum
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Spain and Morocco
- Distribution:
- France and Belgium, Eastern United States from Great Lakes to Florida
- Edibility:
- The bulb contains a substance called comisic acid, which acts like saponin. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body. Saponins are quite bitter.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 0 ft. 9 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Fragrant
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Urn
- Flower Size:
- > 6 inches
- Flower Description:
- Conical, fragrant, tightly packed, deep violet blue flowers atop scapes rising to 8 inches tall in early spring. Each bulb produces 1 to 3 scapes with 20 to 40 flowers per scape.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- 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 inches in length and grow from the base of the plant. Leaf blade channeled to subterete and narrowly linear, apex abruptly contracted.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Edible Garden
- English Garden
- Rock Garden
