Muscari armeniacum Valerie Finnis - Grape Hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum Valerie Finnis is an exceptional variety with a pale blue porcelain colour and silver lustre, which is unusual for a muscari. Its conical clusters of tightly packed, multiple small fragrant flowers bloom in spring for several weeks, forming beautiful waves of celestial blue on a carpet of fresh green leaves. Muscari armeniacum is a small bulbous plant that is not very demanding and will easily naturalise in well-drained soil without reverting to type.

Muscari armeniacum, sometimes called Armenian grape hyacinth, is a plant in the asparagus family. This small bulbous plant is native to the mountains of southeastern Europe, Armenia, Turkey, and the Caucasus, where it withstands severe frost. 'Valerie Finnis,' produces a basal rosette of very narrow, light green leaves. The deciduous foliage disappears after flowering and reappears in autumn. Each rosette produces 3 to 5 flower spikes from April to May on a mature and well-developed bulb. The 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8in) tall flower spikes bear 20 to 40 small urn-shaped, crystalline blue, well-scented flowers tightly packed in a compact cluster 8-10 cm (3-4in) tall. After pollination fruits form containing many round black seeds which germinate very easily.

Muscari is a small but versatile plant, very useful in a garden or pots and containers. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and shade allows it to be used in many situations: in the undergrowth, at the base of trees, along borders to accentuate the design of a pathway, in rockeries with heathers or in Japanese-style gardens. It also grows very well in pots, on a window sill or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive neglect and thrive without gardeners, or in weekend gardens. Its blue flowers are very beautiful next to the yellow trumpets of daffodils or the pink and red cups of triumph tulips.