Muscari comosum - Grape Hyacinth

Muscari comosum, also known as Grape Hyacinth, is a beautiful and curious little bulbous plant, appreciated by gardeners for its spikes of small cream-brown bell-shaped flowers, topped with a lovely feathery tuft of filaments of deep blue to violet sterile flowers. It will work well in a rockery, along a path, or in a natural-looking flower bed. Hardy and easy to grow, it thrives in well-drained but fertile soil, in full sun.

Also called Clustered Hyacinth, Muscari comosum is a plant from the lily family, native to North America and central and southern Europe. The linear leaves, which resemble those of leeks, are linear and form an erect clump that reaches 15 cm (6in) high. In April-May, depending on the climate, curious inflorescences appear on long stems that can exceed 30 cm (12in) high. The lower part of the inflorescences consists of clusters of small cream-brown fertile bell-shaped flowers, while the upper part features filaments carrying sterile, deep blue to violet flowers, which are intense in the light. The terminal plume-like arrangement of these flowers is what gave this Muscari its common name. This bulb naturalises easily in light soil.

Plant Muscari comosum in mass plantings, in groups of about ten bulbs, for a carpet-like effect or along a path to achieve a decorative impact. They can also be randomly naturalised in a lawn and at the base of shrubs. They will greatly the well-drained soil of a rockery and the full sun it provides. Their flowering offers a beautiful range of blues, which will enhance the beauty of all other spring bulbs. They pair well with daffodils and wood anemones to create delicate scenes. Pink or white tulips are also good companions for their graceful flowers. In a nature-inspired garden, they need little maintenance, just like ornamental garlic, Verbascum, Stachys, wild chicory, or sainfoin.