Care-free grape hyacinth: from bulbs to flowers in your garden

Named for their grape-like clusters of tiny urn-shaped blossoms, grape hyacinths are adaptable, hardy, virtually care-free little plants that grow almost anywhere in the garden in the springtime.

Named for their grape-like clusters of tiny urn-shaped blue, white or pink blossoms, grape hyacinths are adaptable, comely little plants that can be scattered almost anywhere in the landscape.

• They're perfect for nestling up against tree trunks or planting beneath spring-flowering shrubs.
• Grape hyacinths can also be used in the perennial border in combination with the emerging shoots of peonies, or as companions to other spring bulbs.
• In lawns that already include crocus, daffodils or other small flowers, grape hyacinths are a welcome addition.

Because grape hyacinths grow leaves in the fall and in mild-winter climates, through winter, they are handy to use as markers to remind you where daffodils and other bulbs, which don't emerge till spring, are planted.

• Grape hyacinth blossoms make dainty but fleeting cut flowers.

Most grape hyacinth varieties reach 15 to 30 centimetres (six to 12 inches) tall and flower on leafless stems that jut from clumps of slender, grassy leaves.

• They are all hardy, care-free, dependable spring bloomers and vary only in intensity of colour and fragrance.
• Muscari armeniacu has fragrant dark blue-violet flowers accented by a thin white edge.
• The 'Blue Spike' cultivar has a denser cluster of double blue blossoms and makes a long-lasting cut flower.
• 'Cantab' has light blue flowers that appear later than most other types. M. botryoide is a centuries-old favourite with sky blue flowers that smell of plums.
• To add contrast to drifts of grape hyacinth, combine it with the pure white variety, 'Album', and the pink 'Carneum'.
• The flower spikes of M. latifoliu feature dark violet-black flowers on the lower portion of the stem and lighter, blue-violet flowers towards the tip.
• An unusual species is the tassel hyacinth (M. comosu), which grows to 45 centimetres (18 inches) and produces shaggy, tasselled, blue-violet flowers. However, it can't be counted on for long-term performance and may flower well only the first year after planting.

After planting, grape hyacinth is a relatively low-maintenance flower.

• Plant grape hyacinths in early fall, spacing bulbs five centimetres (two inches) apart and 10 centimetres (four inches) deep in groups of 10 or more.
• Grape hyacinths are so easygoing that you can plant them simply by pounding a piece of 2.5-cm diameter (one-inch) pipe into the ground 10 centimetres (four inches) deep, pull out the plug of soil, drop in the bulb and then fill in the hole.
• Thin gray-green leaves will appear a few weeks after planting and persist all winter in areas with mild winters.
• After the blooming show in spring, grape hyacinths slip into a summer slumber and will disappear altogether, remaining in a state of dormancy until fall.
• Virtually pest- and disease-free grape hyacinths increase freely with little attention and can make colonies in only a few years.
• They can be invasive. Should they become overcrowded, dig up clumps and move the bulbs in fall when the new leaves appear.

Attributes
Produce clusters of blue, white or pink flowers suitable for formal flower beds or scattered "randomly" lawns.

Season of interest
Spring is when they bloom.

Favourite varieties
Among the more popular choices are S. armeniacu 'Blue Spike', M. botryoide 'Album', M. latifoliu.

Quirks
Need six weeks minimum of winter chilling for spring blooms to occur. Leaves grow from fall to spring.

Good neighbours
Daffodils, hyacinths, pansies, peonies, shrubs and trees.

Where it grows best
Anywhere except extremely dry sites.

Potential problems
Can be invasive if left to grow untended. Simply dig out unwanted plants.

Renewing plants
Grape hyacinth lives many years. To renew, dig crowded clumps, separate and replant in fall.

Critter resistance
Excellent. Few pests affect this plant.

Planting depth
Ten centimetres (four inches) is optimal.

Source
Bulbs is how you can buy this plant.

Dimensions
At maturity, these flowers grow from 15 to 45 centimetres (six to 18 inches) tall.