Tidewater Gardening
(with narrow white rims) that look like clusters of grapes. The scientific name Muscari comes from the Greek word for musk, and refers to the mildly sweet fragrance, variously described as slightly grassy or grapey, that is produced by the plant’s flowers. Once established, grape hyacinths readily naturalize, reproducing by division and self-seeding. As with some of the other minor bulbs, under the right environmental conditions, grape hyacinths can become invasive. So this September, when you are going through the spring-flowering bulb displays at the gardening retail centers, don’t forget to add some of the “minors” to enhance your spring flower display. Happy Gardening!
Grape Hyacinth The flowers appear in late February or early March. This bulb is native to the Caucasus Mountains in Central Asia. When it gets hot, the foliage disappears and the bulb goes dormant. An excellent use of this bulb is in sunny borders or along bodies of water, like streams and ponds. Finally, if you like hyacinths, don’t forget grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum). It is another member of the lily family that is native to southeastern Europe. Grape hyacinth’s common name refers to the plant’s clusters of small, bell-shaped, cobalt-blue flowers
Marc Teffeau retired as the Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs at the American Nursery and Landscape Association in Washington, D.C. He now lives in Georgia with his wife, Linda.
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