Flowers similar to muscari. Mouse hyacinth (muscari, viper onion): description, planting and care. Growing muscari in containers

Muscari(Muscari) or mouse hyacinth, or viper onion.

A genus of herbaceous plants of the Hyacinth family. The Latin name is given for the smell of flowers, reminiscent of musk.

Distributed in the steppes, on open mountain slopes among shrubs, on forest edges and alpine meadows in the Mediterranean and steppe regions of Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and western Central Asia. There are about 60 species in the genus, in countries former USSR- about 20 species.

Unpretentious bulbous plants 10-30 cm tall. The bulbs are ovoid, the outer scales are light, 1.5-3.5 cm long and up to 2 cm in diameter. The leaves are linear, basal, 10-17 cm long, appear in the spring, in some species in the fall, and then they overwinter under the snow. Flowers with a barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular perianth, consisting of six fused leaflets with bent edges, from white to dark blue in color, 4-6 mm long and up to 4 mm in diameter, collected in dense apical, racemose inflorescences 2-8 cm long . They have a pleasant, strong aroma. There are 6 stamens, they are attached to the perianth in 2 rows. Pistil with a three-locular sessile ovary, short filiform style and a three-lobed stigma. The fruit is a three-locular, winged, angular capsule. The seeds are small, wrinkled, round, black, and remain viable throughout the year.

Muscari dense-flowered(Muscari pycnanthum). Grows in the Caucasus.

The bulb is ovoid, 2.5 - 3 cm long and up to 3 cm in diameter. The leaves are linear, up to 20 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The flower arrow is up to 20 cm high with a racemose inflorescence bearing up to 50 flowers. The perianth is barrel-shaped, 6–7 mm long and 3–4 mm in diameter, dark blue with a blackish tint, straight teeth and a white edge. Blooms in mid-May. Flowering duration is up to 12 days.

Muscari belozevny(Muscari leocostomum). It is found in lowlands, on gentle slopes of hills, on cultivated soils in the Black Sea region, Central Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Iran.

The bulb is ovoid, 1.5 - 3 cm long and 0.8 - 2 cm in diameter. 2 - 6 leaves, 15-20 cm long and 3 - 5 mm wide. A flower arrow 10–12 cm high bears an inflorescence 2–3 cm long, consisting of 40 flowers. The perianth is barrel-shaped, 4–7 mm long and 3–4 mm wide, dark blue with a purple tint and white bent teeth with a constriction at the throat. Blooms at the end of April. Flowering duration is 15 – 20 days.

Muscari pale(Muscari pallens). It grows on mountain slopes and subalpine meadows of the Caucasus and in the mountains of eastern Turkey. Very rare.

One of the most elegant and miniature species of the genus. The bulb is ovoid, 1.5-3 cm long and 0.8-2 cm in diameter. Leaves number 2-6, 15-20 cm long and 3-5 mm wide. The peduncle is 10-12 cm long, bears an inflorescence of 30-40 flowers. The perianth is 4-6 mm long and 3-4 mm wide, pale blue, with white teeth. The campanulate perianth with white teeth along the edge is not constricted at the throat, as in most types of muscari. Flowering occurs in the second half of May for 10-15 days. Overwinters without leaves.

Other mountain species:

Muscari blue(Muscari coeruleum). The flowers are bright blue. It is found in the meadows of the subalpine and alpine zones of the central part of the Main Caucasus Range.

Muscari grapevine(Muscari botryoides). It is found in meadows and mountain slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones of Central and Southern Europe.

Muscari longiflora(Muscari dolichanthum). It grows on limestones in the Alpine, less often in the lower mountain zone in Western Transcaucasia.

MUSCARI(Muscari), or viper onion, mouse hyacinth - a genus of plants from the Hyacinth family (Hyacinthaceae) - bright and popular bulbous plant.

One look at the magnificent blue Muscari carpet covering spring gardens and flower beds, fills the heart with lightness and freshness. Perhaps no other flower has such an infinitely blue color. The combination of this stunning blue color, grace and delicate aroma has made muscari one of the most popular spring flowers.

Muscari are unpretentious bulbous plants, depending on the type, the height of the plants varies from 10 to 30 cm. Their leaves are narrow, linear, basal, 10-17 cm long, appear in the spring, in some types of muscari in the fall and then they overwinter under the snow.

Muscari flowers have a barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular perianth, consisting of six fused leaflets with bent edges, from white to dark blue in color, 0.4-0.6 cm long and up to 0.4 cm in diameter, collected in dense apical , racemose inflorescences 2-8 cm long. Muscari flowers have a pleasant, strong aroma.

The name comes from the Greek word muschio - musk. The genus Muscari Muscari was isolated by the English botanist of Scottish origin Philip Miller (1691-1771), and the name of the genus comes from the GreekEuropean moschos - meaning “muse” and was given to the plant because of the delicate, subtle aroma inherent in some types of muscari.

The genus includes 30 species of these spring-flowering small-bulbous perennials. Muscari has spread to wildlife across Europe, North America and Western Asia. Its English name (Grape Hyacinth) means grape hyacinth, because the inflorescences resemble grape clusters, and in France the name earth lilac (Lilas de terre) was assigned to muscari. Why mouse hyacinth is generally clear: in color, appearance, and aroma it is similar to hyacinth, but it is very small, just right for a mouse.

Main types and varieties of muscari

The genus Muscari includes about 60 species, distributed in Central and Southern Europe, Asia and North Africa. In addition to botanical species, there are hybrids. The color of the inflorescences is usually light and dark blue, but there are also varieties with white and pale yellow flowers.

Of the 20 species cultivated in our country, four species can be considered the most common:

Muscari Armenian(Muscari armeniacum), blooming in May with blue fragrant flowers with a white jagged edge. The Blue Spike variety has been developed with double flowers and very large inflorescences of bright blue color;
Muscari Tubergen(Muscari tubergenianum) with 2 colors, with light blue apical flowers and dark blue in the lower part of the inflorescence;
Muscari grapevine(Muscari botryoides) - its varieties are very interesting with small sky-blue, blue-violet or white flowers, collected in large inflorescences, 10-15 cm high, with a delicate aroma. Known since 1576. It blooms in the first half of May for 12-20 days. It has a garden variety with white flowers (var. album Sw.), which blooms a week later than the main species, does not form seeds; (var. cameum Arnott.) - with pink flowers.
Muscari racemosus(Muscari racemosum) with large purple flowers. They differ from the previous one in the shape of the inflorescences. If the first has drooping flowers in the inflorescence, then the second has them tightly pressed to the peduncle. Plant height is from 10 to 20 cm. Propagated by children and seeds, which give excellent self-seeding.

Armenian muscari (M. armeniacum Leichtl. ex Baker) 10-20 cm high and its varieties are grown in garden plots. People call it "mouse hyacinth". Known in culture since 1877. It blooms with dark blue fragrant flowers with a thin white border along the edge. The number of tiny flowers about 0.5 cm long in an inflorescence can reach up to 40-50 pieces. It blooms around May, depending on the climate zone. Flowering lasts on average 3-4 weeks. The upper flowers of the inflorescence are sterile, while the lower flowers produce seeds. The bulbs are small, with thin light skin, oblong, up to 2 cm in diameter. They easily produce many daughter bulbs, which bloom within two years.

Blooming muscari, with blue, white-edged flowers, is also common. Tufted muscari with a height of 25 cm, Turkish muscari with one leaf, and terry muscari are also grown. Ambrosia muscari - M. ambrosiacum Moench. = Muscarimia muscari (L.) Losinsk

The main requirements are moisture and nutrients. Prefers a sunny place, but can get used to the shade. Propagated by dividing the bulbs, which is done every 3 years. Bulbs are planted in the fall. Flowering begins in April-May. After flowering ends, faded leaves should be trimmed. This plant will do well in any well-drained soil. Muscari love fertile soil; when fertilizing, they prefer organic matter - humus, compost, which are added in an amount of 5 kg / sq. m. m. It is advisable to plant muscari every 4-5 years, otherwise the plants become smaller due to strong density.

Muscari are great in the massif. Used in mixborders, groups in combination with beautiful flowering shrubs, in alpine hills. You can plant them under trees and shrubs. These plants will decorate spring flower bed, flower garden. They are indispensable when decorating rock gardens and borders. Look great in miniature flower arrangements. They stand quite well in a vase and are loved by florists as original material. Blue muscari goes well with red, orange or yellow. Muscari are excellent partners for daffodils, tulips, irises, and primroses. They can make a wonderful composition with forget-me-nots and violets.

I really love spring and the blooming of spring bulbs. One of the first places on this list for me is a variety of muscaria. Many people think that muscari only comes in cobalt blue. But this is far from true. They can be white, blue, pink, purple and even pink. They can be fragrant and practically odorless; they make beautiful and cute bouquets. With proper care early spring They make good distillation.

They can be planted almost anywhere - on alpine and rocky hills, on flower beds and retaining walls, in flowerpots and patio containers. There are a million options, maybe more. Let's talk about different varieties and options for their design use. After all, in essence, they are not only incredibly beautiful, but also very unpretentious. They are not touched by mice and other rodents, which is also important; they are quite frost- and cold-resistant. Why is this not an ideal material for all kinds of landscapers and florists?

So let's begin. And we will start with the most widespread and honored variety Armeniacum

It also looks good paired with low-growing white tulips such as Calgary and Fritillaria imperialis.

It is beautiful on its own, in a flower pot, and in combination with many other small bulbous plants.

No less interesting is the two-color variety Latifolium

This variety looks good in combination with yellow, red or pink tulips. This variety is often called Bicolor

The next very beautiful variety is called Ocean Magic. Look how beautiful it looks paired with the yellow terry Yellow Spider tulip

We completely forgot about white muscari. Agree that they also look very beautiful, including together with hyacinths

White Magic variety:

Muscari White Magic, hyacinth Blue Jacket, double early tulip Yellow Baby:

Next we will have the terry variety Blue Spike. It looks very beautiful, both in groups, in combination with other cultures, and on its own.

We haven't had yellow muscari yet. This is a very beautiful and very fragrant variety. It was not for nothing that they called it Golden Fragrance - “Golden Aroma”.

Moreover, such aromatic muscari come in very different lengths, as can be seen from the following picture, which shows 3 completely different varieties

And this type and shape of muscari is white and purple and half as long. They are also very flavorful! and have characteristic brown “spots”

And so far we haven't had pink varieties. At the moment I know of 2 pink varieties.

Variety Pink Sunrise:

And the Gul Delight variety:

Now a few more very dark varieties. For example, Key Biscayne:

Or here’s another variety without a name, so far it only has number No. 118A_DSC_5178

Or, on the contrary, very beautiful light or two-tone tones:

Mount Hood variety:

Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of the variety... This is still a new product:

Or this is also a very beautiful and original coloring. Also new:

Well, here’s what can be made from a variety of varieties of muscaria)))))))

As you can see, the variety is very large, and there is also plenty to choose from)))))

Have a nice day!

In dry shade under deciduous trees and shrubs you can plant clearings of spring bulbous plants muscari(mouse hyacinth). This is a light-loving perennial, but in the spring, when the leaves on the trees have not yet blossomed, it has enough light. Different types and varieties of muscari They bloom from mid-April to June, making excellent company with other small-bulbous plants (crocuses and pushkinias) and spring-flowering perennials (anemones, lilies of the valley, lumbago).

In addition to placement under trees, muscari are also planted in sunny places - in dense groups between perennials in mixborders. In flower beds or borders in flower beds with annuals, which are planted or sown directly over the plantings, muscari, since its leaves die off already in June. Mouse hyacinth is also beautiful among stones on an alpine hill or in flowerpots near the entrance to the house (muscari smells nice). It can also be planted on a regular lawn (which is cut after the muscari leaves turn yellow) or its Moorish variety.

Unpretentiousness, winter hardiness, the ability to reproduce independently and resistance to pests and diseases allow me to recommend muscari as one of the best plants for the garden without hassle.

Types and varieties of muscari:

Muscari Armenian

Muscari Armenian(Muscari armeniacum) - plant height in flowering up to 20 cm. Linear leaves about 15 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, grow in autumn. The flowers are blue, bell-shaped, with white teeth along the edge, about 0.5 cm in diameter, collected in an inflorescence of a short raceme up to 4 cm long. Blooms in May for 20-25 days.

Many varieties have been developed.

"Big Smile"

"Big Smile" is a light blue inflorescence about 12 cm long (excluding the stem).

"Blue Spike

"Blue Spike" - a variety up to 25 cm tall, the inflorescence is dense, highly branched with a large number blue sterile flowers, blooms at the end of May for about 20 days.

"Cupido" - variety height up to 12 cm, sky blue flowers.

"Dark Eaz

"Dark Eyes" - a plant up to 20 cm tall, deep blue flowers with a snow-white border around the edge, blooms at the end of April.

"Fantasy Creation

“Fantasy creation” - variety height up to 20 cm, numerous double flowers in a branched inflorescence, first greenish then light blue, blooms from late May to early June.

"Mount Hood

"Mount Hood" - a plant about 15 cm tall, light blue inflorescences with a white top, blooms in May.

"Pink Sunrise

"Pink Sunrise" - a variety about 15 cm tall, porcelain-pink flowers, blooms in May.

Muscari grapevine

Muscari grapevine(M. botryoides) - a plant about 12 cm tall. The leaves are up to 12 cm long, 0.5 cm wide. The flowers are blue with a purple tint and white teeth along the edge, collected in an inflorescence of a narrow raceme about 5 cm long. It blooms from the beginning of May for about 20 days.

There are two varieties with white and pink flowers.

White (var. album) - blooms from mid-May.

Pink (var. carneum) - flowers are white and pink.

Myscari racemosus

Myscari racemosus(M.racemosum) - plant height is about 12 cm. Linear leaves up to 15 cm long and 0.4 cm wide, grow in spring. The flowers are dark blue in a racemose inflorescence up to 3 cm long. It blooms in May for about a month.

Location:

All types and varieties of muscari grow well both in well-lit areas and in partial shade.

The soil should be fertile, loose, and not waterlogged. During dormancy, dry conditions are desirable.

Care:

Muscari can grow without any care at all. But they love autumn or spring feeding organic fertilizers (compost or humus), while forming stronger and taller inflorescences.

Winter-hardy without shelter.

Muscari is also called mouse hyacinth or viper onion. This bulbous perennial belongs to the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), but previously this genus was a member of the lily or hyacinth family. This genus includes approximately 60 species. IN natural conditions such plants can be found on the edges of forests, among bushes, as well as on the mountain slopes of the Caucasus, Crimea, Southern and Central Europe, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. These plants are among the earliest spring flowers and are often grown as cut flowers. Muscari flowers have a very strong, but quite pleasant smell. Small but very impressive muscari flowers decorate lawns, rock gardens and gardens. These flowers are also used as border plants.

Features of muscari

The ovoid muscari bulbs have light-colored outer scales. The bulbs reach 20 mm in diameter and 15–35 mm in length. The length of the basal linear leaf plates reaches 17 centimeters; they grow up to 6 pieces on one specimen. Leaves grow in spring time, however, they can reappear in the fall. Such plants can reach a height of about 0.3 meters. On the leafless peduncle there are flowers, the perianths of which are barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular in shape and consist of 6 fused petals, bent along the edge. Color can vary from dark blue to white. The diameter and length of the flowers are 5 mm. Such flowers are part of dense apical or racemose inflorescences, which can reach about 8 centimeters in length. The fruit is a three-lobed winged capsule, heart-shaped or spherical, containing small wrinkled black seeds. The seeds remain viable for 12 months after collection. The advantages of the Muscari genus are that almost all species are highly decorative, and such plants are also distinguished by their unpretentiousness.

Types and varieties of muscari with photos

Armenian Muscari (Muscari armeniacum)

The winter-hardy Armenian (Colchian) muscari is very popular among gardeners. Its flowering begins at the end of spring and lasts about 20 days. This particular species is called “mouse hyacinth”. The flowers located in the upper part of the inflorescences are sterile, and they are colored light blue color. The dark blue flowers, located in the lower part of the peduncle, have a white border. The flowers have a pleasant smell.

The most popular varieties:

Muscari terry Blue Spike. It is very decorative due to the fact that the cluster-shaped inflorescence includes up to 170 flowers. It is unpretentious and is often used for cutting.
Christmas Pearl. Has very decorative flowers purple color.
Fantasy Creation. Very spectacular variety thanks to the combination of greenish blue and blue colors.

Muscari botryoides

Under natural conditions, this species can be found in the alpine belt of Central and Southern Europe. It has been considered the most popular among gardeners since 1576. The flowers of this species are somewhat smaller compared to Armenian muscari. Almost all varieties are colored in various shades of blue, but there are 2 varieties:

V album. The cluster-shaped inflorescences consist of white flowers similar to pearls.
V carneum. The flowers are pink in color.

Muscari latifolia

The leaf blades of this species are very wide and similar to the foliage of a tulip. The inflorescences are dense, cylindrical in shape and dark blue in color. It stands out among other species in that several flower stalks can grow from one bulb at once.

Pale muscari (Muscari pallens)

In natural conditions it can be found on mountain slopes. The peduncles are low, and small bell-shaped flowers of a light blue color appear on them. The most popular variety is White Rose Beauty: the color of its flowers is light pink.

Muscari crested (Muscari comosum)

Very impressive look. IN wild conditions prefers to grow among bushes, on the edges of forests, as well as in dry meadows. On the peduncle there is a pappus, consisting of purple flowers having arched peduncles. This type looks very impressive on lawns or lawns against the background of ground cover grass. The most popular variety is Plumozum: the shoots are highly branched, and they have large number sterile flowers of violet-lilac color.

Muscari Oshe, or Tubergen

It can be found in nature in Northwestern Iran. Flowering occurs in mid-spring. Blue flowers have lighter colored teeth. Good drainage is necessary. The most popular variety among gardeners is Tubergen, which has paler flowers and crescent-shaped leaf blades.

Pretty Muscari (Muscari pulchellum)

This species has a Hebrew name that sounds like kadan nae (beautiful). You can see such flowers in the parks of Ashkelon. They begin to bloom in winter time. The peduncles are low, and on them there are dense, short, ovoid inflorescences with a deep blue color. The teeth of the bend are painted white.

In addition to these species, the following are also very popular among gardeners: muscari long-flowered, changeable, ambrosia, white-fruited, large-fruited, strange, multi-flowered, densely flowered, racemose, etc.

Growing muscari in the garden

These flowers are quite popular in gardening. They look very good in decorative vases and rock gardens, while low-growing varieties used as borders. Muscari also look very impressive in multi-tiered flower beds, in composition with other plants that bloom in spring. Thus, against the backdrop of a dense planting of blue-purple muscari, islands of early-blooming daffodils and tulips, which are slightly taller, look incredibly beautiful. Also, orange grouse look great next to blue muscari.

Like other early-blooming spring flowers, muscari begin to bloom when there are still no leaves on the bushes and trees. Due to this sunlight There is always enough for such plants. These flowers can survive without replanting for several years in a row, so experienced gardeners advise planting them in close proximity to a perennial plant that does not require relatively frequent replanting. Loose, nutrient-rich and well-permeable soil is very suitable for planting. Experts advise choosing an elevated area for muscari, and it should be protected from strong gusts of wind.

Planting muscari in open ground

What time to plant

It is recommended to plant in the autumn until the last days of October. It is best to plant plants in groups, but it should be taken into account that only those muscari bushes that have been grown in the same place for 5 years or longer can be planted. When purchasing planting material in a specialized store, you should pay attention special attention on the condition of the shoots. They should not show signs of disease. In April, sometimes in nurseries you can see muscari seedlings, which are already in full bloom, while sellers assure that these plants can be immediately transplanted to permanent place. You can try to follow their advice.

How to plant

Before planting, it is necessary to inspect the bulbs, and remove those that are damaged or darkened. For preventive purposes, planting material must be disinfected; for this, it is placed for 30 minutes. into a solution of karbofos (2%). Then it is taken out and immersed in a solution of potassium manganese (1%) for half an hour. Also, 24 hours before planting the bulbs, it is necessary to prepare the planting holes; they should be watered abundantly so that the entire layer of soil is wet. Before planting, the bottom of the holes is covered with a layer river sand which will serve as good drainage. Large bulbs are buried 7 centimeters into the soil, while a distance of 5 to 10 centimeters is left between specimens. Small bulbs need to be buried 3 centimeters into the ground, while leaving 2 to 3 centimeters of empty space between the specimens.

Features of care

Caring for muscari is quite simple, so even a novice gardener can grow this plant. Such a flower should be watered only at the very beginning of active growth, but at this time most often the soil contains a large amount of moisture after the melting of the snow cover or after heavy spring rains. When the plant is at rest, it does not need watering. Systematic watering is only needed if winter period there was little snow or there was very little rain in the spring.

If the soil on the site contains a small amount of nutrients, then there is a need to add organic fertilizer to the soil. So, in the autumn, during digging, you can add compost or humus to the soil, while 5 kg of fertilizer is taken per 1 m2. If such fertilizer is systematically applied to the soil in the autumn, then muscari can be grown in the same area for 10 years. However, in the end, such plants will still have to be replanted.

Bloom

Flowering lasts a little longer than 20 days. At this time, you just need to regularly loosen the soil surface (after watering), and you need to be very careful not to injure the bulb. It is also necessary to carry out timely weeding and, if necessary, pick off fading flowers. If you notice that over time, the flowers of the plant began to lose their former decorative effect, this means that the muscari needs to be replanted.

Transfer

Muscari can be propagated vegetatively using pups separated from the mother bulb. In this way, the plant is propagated in the fall at the same time that the site is being dug up (from the middle to the last days of October). Replanting should only be done on bushes that have been growing in the same place for 5 to 6 years. However, you can understand that muscari needs seating according to its appearance. The bulbs must be dug up and then separated from the mother's children (there are up to 30 of them). Then the bulbs will need to be planted in the manner described above.

Reproduction of muscari

The vegetative method of propagation is described above. In addition, muscari reproduces very well by self-sowing. In order to control the number of these flowers after they have faded, it is recommended to remove all flower stalks, leaving a few if necessary. When the seeds are ripe, they will need to be collected. It should be remembered that they remain viable for 12 months. Sowing should be done in open ground in the autumn, and the seeds should be buried 10–20 mm. Shoots will appear in the spring, and they will look like thin threads. Flowering of muscari grown from seed is observed only after 2 or 3 years.

Diseases and pests

Very often this plant suffers from mosaic disease, and it occurs due to the onion yellow dwarf virus. In an infected specimen, a green mosaic can be seen on the surface of the leaf blades, and they themselves become narrowed, the flower arrow is shortened, and the growth of the plant itself is inhibited. In some cases, muscari becomes infected with the usual cucumber mosaic; in this case, the leaves become deformed, and light green streaks and spots appear on their surface. The carriers of these viruses are aphids, and if it ends up in the bulb, it will remain there. In this regard, all diseased plants must be dug up and destroyed to stop the spread of the virus. For prevention purposes, it is recommended to promptly destroy aphids on the site. To do this, you can use a soap solution. To prepare it, 2 large spoons of soap (Fairy, Gala) need to be mixed with 0.5 liters of water. When spider mites appear, plants should be treated with products of the avermectin group (Aktofit, Vertimek, Fitoverm); spraying should be carried out at a temperature of 18 degrees, while strictly adhering to the instructions.

Muscari after flowering

At the end of flowering, it is necessary to carefully cut off all flower stalks and fertilize with liquid phosphorus-potassium fertilizer to prepare the bulbs for wintering. Muscari needs to be watered less and less. When the leaves on the bushes are completely dry, you need to stop watering them completely. In autumn, you need to dig up the area and plant five-year-old bushes. From bushes that are not being replanted this year, you need to remove old leaf blades. Plants that have been transplanted or seeded should be sprinkled with a layer of mulch (peat).

Storing muscari bulbs

It is not at all necessary to dig up bulbs for the winter, but it is quite possible. But in order to preserve planting material until spring, you need to know a few rules:

After the muscari leaves begin to dry out, you need to start digging up the bulbs.
The bulbs are dried for several days, then they are placed in moistened clean sand or peat.
Once every 7 days it is necessary to inspect the planting material, and rotten, injured or soft bulbs should be rejected.
It is recommended to store the bulbs at an air humidity of 70 percent and at a temperature of 17 degrees.

However, it should be remembered that it is recommended to plant such a plant in the autumn, so there is no particular need to preserve the bulbs until spring.

Muscari blue muscari azureum photo

Everyone loves spring in their own way...for its tenderness, warm air, gentle sun rays, first and very modest flowers. Muscari is one of the first to be ready to give people their beauty and charm. How much joy they give us when they surface cold earth in early spring, replacing primroses. White, sky blue, dark blue, pink bell-shaped flowers, forming a small pyramid, like porcelain, pressed closely together. This is what cheerful and touching muscari looks like.

Muscari - because it has an alluring, strong aroma of musk. And mouse hyacinth is due to its miniature size, as if for small mice, and its close relationship with real hyacinth. Viper onion - for the bulb that looks like a real onion and its toxicity. Near the clumps of these flowers you can often meet a whole family of vipers; they bask in warm meadows where muscari often grow.

Birds avoid pecking the viper onion - it is poisonous to them. Its English name means grape hyacinth - for its inflorescences, which in appearance resemble a bunch of grapes. The French call muscari earthen lilac. The variety of affectionate names hints that muscari viper onion has long been loved by many peoples of different countries.

Muscari white Muscaria White Beauty photo of flowering

Muscari came to Europe by chance back in the 17th century. In ancient times, off the coast of the Netherlands, during a storm, a merchant ship carrying strange goods from warm countries crashed on the reefs. The ship sank, and the bulbs were washed ashore by the waves and they sprouted. Thus, the inhabitants of Europe learned about the extraordinary flowers that can be grown from a tiny bulb.

These primroses look incredibly beautiful in the awakening garden, following the curves of the paths with cheerful streams. Curtains of muscari, similar to bouquets of small berries on long branches, like pieces of the sky, appear in flower beds here and there. Arrangers happily use them to compose their compositions.

Description of muscari muscari or mouse hyacinth

Muscari pink sunrise muscari pink sunrise photo

Muscari is a genus of perennial bulbous plants belonging to the Asparagus family, which includes 44 species. Some are cultivated as ornamental plants, and there are many varieties of muscari with a variety of flower colors. Their bulbs are small, ovoid, up to 2 cm in diameter.

The plant is an ephemeroid; it is in a dormant state for more than half the year, only awakening briefly to decorate the world around it. During growth, the bulb, covered with light outer scales, accumulates nutrients that it uses when flowering in early spring. In spring, narrow linear leaves appear, collected in a basal rosette and low peduncles. Some species have leaves that appear in the fall and remain overwintered under the snow.

Muscari yellow Golden Fragrance Muscari macrocarpum ‘Golden Fragrance’ photo

Flowers with a barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular perianth, consisting of 6 fused petals, are collected in a racemose inflorescence, which has a subtle stimulating aroma. 6 stamens are attached to the perianth in two rows, the fruit is a three-locular capsule with wrinkled, dark seeds, which are used for seed propagation within a year after collection. Distributed throughout Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, and the Mediterranean. Some species climb high into the mountains.

Growing conditions How to plant and care for muscari

Muscari flowers planting How to care for mouse hyacinth

Muscari multiply very quickly, forming luxurious flower carpets. Over the course of a season, one mother bulb forms an entire nest. One rule for everyone garden species should be observed - they do not tolerate stagnation of melt water and lowlands. Otherwise, muscari grows without problems in any area. Has nothing to do with the sun's rays of great importance, since the period of their active growing season occurs at a time when the rest of the green fellows in the neighborhood are just about to wake up from hibernation and in no way interfere with our upstarts.

When planting, you should expect that mouse hyacinth will grow without replanting for several years in one place, and it is good to fill the soil with organic matter and compost.
Add a little sand to the bottom of the planting holes.
The bulbs are buried to a height equal to three of their diameters.
Watering is not relevant for viper onions - there is enough moisture in the ground after the snow melts.
If the plants have not been replanted for several years, they should be fed with complex fertilizer during the flowering period, after thoroughly moistening the soil.

Why don't muscari bloom?

When to dig muscari

If there is a deterioration in flowering or its complete cessation– the plant is just putting out leaves, this is the impetus that it’s time to replant and divide the clump.

It should be borne in mind that the place in muscari may already be empty at the beginning of summer; it can be occupied by annual representatives of the natural kingdom or combined plantings with other perennial plants, which bloom much later.

Do I need to dig up the muscari? How mouse hyacinth overwinters

Winter-hardy varieties do not require special treatment when preparing for wintering. If you are not sure that the planted variety is winter-hardy, it is enough to cover the planting site with spruce branches, fallen leaves or any covering material. There is no need to dig up viper onions, unless you are going to force flowers at home.

Mouse hyacinth at home

Muscari flowers planting and care at home photo Muscari at home in a pot

Muscari is actively used for distillation. Only the healthiest, largest bulbs are suitable for this. They are dug up after the leaves have disappeared from the surface of the earth, cleaned of soil residues, sorted, dried at room temperature and stored until September. Purchased bulbs do not need to be processed - they are already ready for planting.

The main condition when growing mouse hyacinth on windowsills is the correct temperature.
First, they are stored in dry sawdust or wrapped in paper or cotton wool.
Muscari are kept at low temperatures for 3-4 months.
They are kept in cool conditions with a temperature of 9 degrees for 35 days, then the temperature is reduced to 5 degrees.
Two weeks before the end of the cold period, dense planting is placed in pots with a regular earthen substrate, deepening the bulbs by 2 cm, so that the top of the head sees the light.
After the allotted time, the pots are transferred to a warm, bright windowsill.
The soil is watered moderately. Flowering will occur in 15 days– the lower the temperature in the room where the muscari are located, the longer the flowering will continue.
After forcing the plants, they can be buried in the garden.

When to replant muscari? Reproduction by children

Mouse hyacinth muscari reproduction by children photo

Reproduction of muscari is very simple. Usually this operation is combined with a transplant. First of all, you should use pegs to mark the place from where you will transplant the plants. Since by the time of transplantation there will be no traces of them on the ground, the plants are dormant. When to plant muscari? They've been doing this since mid-summer so that the bulbs have time to take root before wintering.

Carefully dig up a lump of earth with a shovel in the noticed place and break it, separating the bulbs. They are carefully sorted, removing diseased and dry ones.
The bulbs are sorted by size; large ones can be left for forcing; the smaller the bulb, the closer they are located to each other.
Very small ones can be placed next to each other, several at a time.
Planting muscari looks more attractive if the plants are arranged in groups. To do this, you can make grooves in the shape of a circle, or lay out the bulbs in flocks, for example, 3 pieces side by side, 10 cm 3 more, etc.

Plant in prepared soil to which humus is added. They make grooves, pour a 2 cm layer of sand onto the bottom and spill it with water. The bulbs are laid out along the furrow, covered with compost on top. The more nutritious the soil at the planting site, the faster the muscari will grow and the more colorful the flowering will be.

Planting muscari in spring

Muscari flowers planting and care photo

Sometimes you have to replant muscari at the wrong time - during flowering, in the spring. They sometimes actively grow and interfere with other crops. Carefully dig up a flock of muscari with a shovel and transfer it to a more convenient place, which is prepared in advance by adding organic fertilizers. A hole is made according to the size of an earthen lump with muscari, which is carefully transferred directly on a shovel, sprinkled with soil around the circumference. After this, water the plants thoroughly. Usually, with this method of transplantation, muscari bloom again next spring without problems.

The video will tell you how to plant muscari in the spring:

For all unplanned transplants, so that the plants suffer less, it is better to replant them in the evening, watering them abundantly. If possible, it is better to shade the planting in the first week.

Growing muscari from seeds

Growing muscari from seeds to seedlings photo

Most muscari species reproduce by self-sowing. With cultural maintenance, this type of propagation is rarely used - flowering will occur only after 4 years.

For propagation by seeds, you can use your own seed.
The seeds are allowed to ripen and in the fall, after harvesting, they are sown in the garden.
When using the seedling method, stratification is used (the seeds are kept in the refrigerator for about 3-4 months before planting, be sure to moisten them and wrap them in a wet cloth, placing it in a bag). A good time to start stratification is October. In February, carefully plant the seeds in containers.
Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm.
Caring for seedlings requires careful attention - weeds, soil crust, and poor soil are unacceptable. All this negatively affects their development.
Watering is moderate to prevent root rot.
At the end of March, hardening is carried out, leaving the seedlings outside to get used to normal conditions. In early to mid-April, when the soil is ripe, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

Diseases and pests

Sometimes they can be affected by diseases and pests. Aphids are familiar to all gardeners. The primary source of aphids are garden ants, which spread them throughout the area and create entire colonies of these pests. Fighting ants is the key to the absence of aphids. To combat aphids, use a soap solution. It adheres to plants, forming a protective film that prevents the spread of aphids.

The soap solution can be used as a preventative against any pests. For this piece laundry soap rub on a fine grater, dry, pour the resulting powder into a container and use it as needed. It is added to water 1 tbsp. spoon onto a bucket, stir thoroughly and irrigate any plants from a watering can after watering. For greater effect you can use tar soap or add with composition birch tar. If you use this product constantly, the pests will forget the way to your site.

Spider mites leave a thin network of cobwebs on the leaves. An insecticide is used to combat it.

Field mice love to eat mouse hyacinth bulbs. To deter them, you can plant strong-smelling or thorny plants nearby.

Aphids and spider mite can carry diseases. The most dangerous diseases are mosaic or onion yellow dwarf virus. The leaves of such plants turn yellow without time, have a depressed appearance, and have whitish stripes and specks. Affected flowers cannot be treated. They are dug up and destroyed so that the disease does not spread further.

Application

Muscari is not used in official medicine. They have many beneficial properties, but due to their toxicity they are used in traditional medicine only externally. In some Asian countries They are used as a wound-healing, analgesic, and rejuvenating agent. Essential oil is used in cosmetology as an antiseptic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, and disinfectant. Effective as an aphrodisiac.

With the arrival of spring, these tiny plants fill our gardens and plots, delighting with graceful inflorescences that repeat the azure of the spring sky. Muscari are great in mass plantings in flower beds. They are unusually combined with beautiful flowering shrubs in mixborders. They should be planted under big trees to revive tree trunk circles. Their blue color makes a wonderful addition to daffodils, tulips, primroses, and irises in miniature flower arrangements.

Muscari in vases look elegant and bright. TO New Year's holidays are used for forcing. Blue tassels of earthen lilac fit perfectly between large plants, they are very impressive in multi-tiered compositions. Many people consider muscari a shabby plant that does not deserve any attention. But there are a great many such plants in our gardens, and when good care they serve as a better decoration than many newfangled flowers, which still need to be accustomed to our conditions. And muscari bloom and delight the eye every spring, without causing any problems to their owners.

Types and varieties of muscari with photos and descriptions

Armenian Muscari Muscari armeniacum

Armenian Muscari Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker photo of flowers

Grows on the plains of Transcaucasia and Turkey. The bulb is 2.5 cm in diameter and produces linear leaves, narrowed at the top. The 20 cm long peduncle bears a multi-flowered, almost spherical inflorescence with several sterile flowers at the top. The perianth with a constriction at the throat is bright blue with white teeth. The upper sterile flowers are lighter. Blooms in spring, overwinters without foliage, winter-hardy without shelter. Most common among amateur gardeners. Breeders have worked for several centuries to create many varieties with various shapes and the color of the flower - their labors were crowned with success.

Variety Blue Spike– bred in Holland at the end of the last century. The cluster-shaped inflorescences contain 150–180 blue fragrant flowers. Blooms two weeks later than usual, does not bear fruit. When emerging from the ground it looks like a dark lump. Propagated by daughter bulbs. Extraordinarily beautiful and unpretentious plant, used for both decorative decoration gardens, and for making compositions from cut flowers. If the weather is cool, then you can enjoy the blooming of terry bouquets for about three weeks. Suitable for forcing. Winters well.

Variety Cantab- miniature form with bright blue flowers. A wintering variety that is very popular among gardeners.

Christmas Pearl variety– garden mouse hyacinth with dark purple flowers. An amazing fresh musky scent accompanies long-lasting flowering.

Armenicum muscari fantasy creation muscari fantasy creation photo in a flower bed

Fantasy Creation variety– is distinguished by the segmented color of the perianth, smoothly changing from green to blue. Flowering continues for a long time. The flowers are double and fragrant.

Variety Dark Eyes– amazingly dark, cornflower blue color with white splashes. Looks great mixed with lighter types.

Muscari Oshe or Tubergen Muscari aucheri = Muscari tubergenianum

Muscari in a flowerbed variety muscari aucheri blue magic photo

It grows in the North-West of Iran. Blue peduncles with a pale jagged edge are collected in inflorescences up to 18 cm high. Overwinters without shelter. Does not tolerate stagnation of melt water. The 'Tubergenianum' variety is distinguished by crescent-shaped leaves and lighter buds at the top.

Muscari botryoides

Muscari flowers perennial variety Muscari botryoides ‘Album’ photo

Known since 1576. Small sky blue, blue-violet or white flowers are collected in large inflorescences with a delicate aroma. On loose, rich soils it develops into lush bushes. Variation Album resembles a scattering of pearls, Corneum is a pink cloud swaying on a stem.

Muscari crested Muscari comosum

Muscari plant plumosum crested muscari comosum plumosum photo

An original plant from Southern Europe and North Africa, it is considered a weed where it grows. The peduncle arrow appears in June from a rosette with 3-4 strap-shaped leaves. The flowers are collected in a loose cluster with a tuft, which is a bunch of sterile bright purple bells on long stalks. Fruiting pitcher-shaped flowers are light brown with a cream edging. The height of the plant at full flowering is about 70 cm. Daughter bulbs are formed weakly - it reproduces due to abundant fruiting and self-seeding.

This type of muscari looks great on lawns, in flower beds with perennial flowers, against the background of a lawn. A popular variety is ‘Plumosum’, which is distinguished by purple inflorescences on highly branched stems.

Muscari latifolium latifolium

Muscari Latifolium Muscari latifolium close-up photo of flowers

Inhabitant of forest edges of Asia Minor. An oval bulb with lanceolate leaves and a peduncle about 22 cm long. Multi-flowered inflorescence with purple flowers below and blue flowers at the top of a dense cluster. This heat-loving species blooms from the beginning of May. The leaves of this specimen look like tulips.

Long-flowered Muscari Muscari dolichanthum

Muscari long-flowered Muscari dolichanthum photo

It blooms at the end of April with azure flowers. The ovoid bulb bears 4-6 ribbon-like leaves and a flower arrow 14-16 cm high. The perianth has white cylindrical teeth. Originally from the mountain belt of Western Transcaucasia.

White muskari Muscari leocostomum

A native of the low-lying areas of the Black Sea region and Iran. It blooms in April with an inflorescence consisting of 40 ultramarine flowers edged with whitish teeth.

Muscari macrocarpum

Large-fruited Muscari Muscari macrocarpum in landscape design photo

Looks different enough large flowers. There are blue, yellow, brown varieties. He is originally from Greece and Western Turkey. In our latitude, it is recommended for growing in pots, brought into living quarters for the winter.

Muscari pale Muscari paiitns

The most elegant and miniature muscaricus comes from the subalpine meadows of the Caucasus. A pale blue perianth with white teeth adorns the plant. It winters well even in the northwestern territories of our country. The white-flowered variety ‘White-rose Beautu’ with white-pink flowers is known in cultivation. In Latvia, the ‘Sky Blue’ variety was developed with a sky-blue bottom and white top of the inflorescence.

Muscari racemosum or unnoticed Muscari Rasemosum = Muscari neglectum

Muscari primroses blue cultivation and care When to plant Viper onion unnoticed photo

It differs little from its other brethren, except that its flowers are slightly larger and tightly pressed to the peduncle. Propagated by self-sowing and children.

Family: hyacinths (Hyacinthaceae).

Motherland

In nature, muscari flowers are common in Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor and Central Asia. Muscari grow in meadows, steppes, along mountain slopes, and at the edges of the forest. The genus contains about 60 species.

Form: perennial bulbous plant.

Description

Muscari (mouse hyacinth, viper onion) is a bulbous plant from 5 to 30 cm tall with linear leaves. Muscari flowers are collected in dense racemes; have a barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular perianth. The color of the flowers varies from white and blue to blue and deep purple. Muscari has a very strong, pleasant aroma. Most often found in the landscaping of summer cottages is Armenian muscari (Muscari armeniacum), but other plant species are also worthy of attention.

, or Muscari Colchis (M. armeniacum or colchicum). The plant is from 12 to 20 cm tall. The leaves of the Armenian muscari are narrow, belt-shaped, collected in a basal rosette, appear before flowering. The flowers are barrel-shaped, small, fragrant, white, blue or purple, collected in dense, racemose, almost spherical inflorescences at the top of a fleshy peduncle. The height of the peduncles is up to 20 cm. The species blooms in late spring (May-June) for 20-25 days. The diameter of the bulb is up to 3 cm. In nature, Armenian muscari grows on the plains in southwestern Transcaucasia and northwestern Turkey.

Muscari grapevine (M. botryoides). The peduncle of this species reaches 10-12 cm in height. The barrel-shaped inflorescences of Muscari apiformis are purple in color and have white teeth. Peduncles are multi-flowered, up to 12 cm high. The species has two interesting garden forms: f. album (with white flowers) and f. carneum (with pinkish flowers). In nature, muscari grape-shaped is distributed in Central and Southern Europe; grows in meadows and on mountain slopes.

Myscari racemosus (M. racemosum). A species with long, narrow leaves. The height of the peduncle is 10-12 cm. Muscari racemose blooms for 20-30 days with deep blue or blue-violet flowers. In nature, Muscari racemosus grows in the south of the European part of Russia, in the Crimea, western Transcaucasia, Central Europe, Mediterranean.

(M. comosum). A peculiar type of muscari with a loose, multi-flowered, racemose inflorescence. The color of the flowers is blue-violet. In nature, crested muscari is found in Southern Europe, South-West Asia and North Africa.

Growing conditions

Growing muscari is possible both in illuminated areas and in light shade. In general, the plants are undemanding to growing conditions, but muscari cannot be planted in lowlands and areas where water accumulates, since the plants cannot tolerate stagnant water. Muscari is a flower that is undemanding to soil conditions, but mouse hyacinth develops better on fertile, loose, well-drained substrates. Muscari are winter-hardy.

Application

Muscari - beautiful bulbous flowers. They are being imprisoned in large groups on, in various rocky gardens - and... In a word, mouse hyacinth will always find its place on summer cottage. Muscari is also possible.

Other bulbous plants - crocuses and scillas - will be good partners for muscari in mixed groups; on viper onion gets along with, (sedum). Mouse hyacinth looks very beautiful with primroses, tiarella,; Planting muscari with . looks impressive.

Care

Muscari needs to be watered during flowering and for 1-2 weeks after its end, and during the dormant period, mouse hyacinth, on the contrary, prefers a dry environment. Muscari are flowers that grow in any garden soil, but are very responsive to the application of organic fertilizers (humus and compost are added when digging, in the fall). Complex mineral fertilizers are applied in early spring.

Reproduction

Muscari is a plant that is propagated by seeds and daughter bulbs. Muscari seeds quickly lose their viability, so they need to be sown immediately, however, the plants usually self-sow. Seedlings bloom in the second or third year.

During the year, the bulb produces up to 30 children, most of which bloom in the second year. The bulbs are planted after the foliage dies and the seeds ripen. No long drying is required. Muscari bulbs are planted at a distance of 5 to 10 cm. Planting depth is 3-4 bulb heights on light soils and 2-3 on heavy soils. Children are planted at a depth of 3-4 cm.

You can buy muscari at a garden center or order it online.

Diseases and pests

Muscari are resistant to disease and are rarely affected by pests.

Popular varieties

Varieties of Armenian muscari

'Blue Spike'. A variety up to 25 cm high with multi-flowered complex clusters and blue flowers. Armenian muscari ‘Blue Spike’ blooms later than the species form. Keeps for a long time.

‘Fantasy Creation’. A variety with double flowers. The perianth has a blue-green color.

'Sapphire'. A variety with dark blue flowers and long flowering.

'Cantab'. A late-blooming variety with blue flowers on low but strong peduncles. Has a pleasant aroma.

The earliest flower in the garden is muscari. It is the first to wake up after hibernation to please everyone with its unrivaled aroma and richness. blue tint and the opportunity to create a composition that will enliven the whole house! Many flower growers are engaged in its cultivation, choosing certain varieties based on photos, but not everyone knows the intricacies of care. Here is information about the rules of planting in open ground, necessary fertilizing, proximity to other flowers in your garden and more!

Description of muscari: varieties from which varieties come

Cute blue bells with a white skirt, the unusualness of which attracts, giving rise to the desire to plant a couple more varieties... Do you have the same picture? This means that this means Armenian muscari (lat. Muscari), or mouse/grape hyacinth, or viper onion - a flower that belongs to the asparagus family. Initially, it was classified as a member of the Liliaceae family, but later, upon closer study, the breeders realized that they were mistaken. The flower's habitat is Southern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Crimea. In total, there are more than 60 types of muscari, the most popular of which are:

muscari Tubergen (Oshe), characterized by short stature and sickle-shaped leaves. Bright Feature— early flowering period;

pale muscari, a regular on the Crimean peninsula. Particularly loved by flower growers for their resistance to bad weather and the rich shade of their bells;
crested muscari, which is distinguished from others by flowers on arched pedicels. They decorate lawns and driveways, using them as a ground cover;

muscari grape-shaped, different small flowers. A bright “trick” - in 2 varieties of white and pink shades;
Armenian muscari, the most common among flower growers and breeders. Everyone will like the power of the bush, resistance to diseases, enough large flowers and a large number of varieties, each of which is special.

Attention! There are more than 170 varieties of Armenian muscari. There are plants with white, lilac, purple, blue and pink flowers to choose from. A striking advantage is the huge number of flower stalks on the bush.

Features of planting a plant, or what needs to be taken into account

Mouse hyacinth is a small-bulbed flower; accordingly, it does not need specific soil for development; it grows almost everywhere. This is due to the supply of nutrients in the bulb, which help the bush to form and flower stalks to take shape.

For planting bulbs, you can choose the time in September-October, before winter, or you can plant in early spring, as soon as the snow melts and the ground warms up to +3-5°C. To plant muscari you need:

Prepare the area. The optimal solution is to plant flowers in groups for maximum expressiveness. To do this, you need to dig up (or loosen well) the soil to at least 8-10 cm. On soils with a pH of 5.8-6.5, the flower will delight with a richer shade and a powerful bush than on acidic or alkaline soils.
Disinfect purchased bulbs, first select diseased or damaged ones. Good remedy- a strong solution of potassium permanganate or the drug Fitosporin.
Plant the bulbs in a group (10-30 pieces), but not less than 4-7 cm from each other. The depth of planting the bulb will depend on its size, approximately 5-8 cm.
Water. An important condition for proper flower care is soil moisture, which must be monitored.
Mulch the root collar if you choose Oshe or broadleaf muscari.

Subsequent care will not require much effort. The flower will delight you with its musky aroma, rich hue of bells, and will put everyone who sees it in a positive mood!

Caring for viper onions: not only the basic rules

Caring for muscari is simple, as every novice gardener can verify. But despite its simplicity, it has its own characteristics. By treating them carefully, you will get abundant flowering for several months!

Fertilizer and feeding, or what is needed for the growth and beauty of muscari

Caring for a flower in open ground comes down to simple rules. The most important of them is watering. The flower loves slightly moist (not wet!) soil. If you notice that the leaves are drooping and drying out, it means there is not enough watering. Therefore, it is worth carefully monitoring the condition of the soil.

In addition, mouse hyacinth needs:

feed throughout the season. To do this, you can choose organic fertilizers with different compositions of micro- and macro-elements, and feed the flower at the time of bud formation and during flowering. Usually, from 3 to 5 fertilizing is done per season, which helps to increase the decorativeness of the flower;
pick off dry flower stalks that have faded. They can be cut off with a knife or pruning shears, promoting the formation of new ones;
replant muscari every 4th year. This will help obtain new planting material and also rejuvenate the bush.

Simple rules of care will help you enjoy the primrose for a long time, enjoying its favorable location in the garden. All that remains is to find a suitable company for muscari!

Briefly about diseases and pests

Grape hyacinth is rarely damaged by diseases, but often by pests. Aphids can, if not destroy, then severely damage plants by introducing the onion yellow dwarf virus, mosaic. It is impossible to fight it, since no effective drugs have been found, so special attention should be paid to the appearance of aphids. Prevention - soap solution, as well as drugs of the avermectin group in combination with urea. And your muscari is always healthy!

Plant propagation: generative and vegetative methods

Like many bulbous plants, muscari reproduces by seeds and division of the mother bulb. The first option is the most labor-intensive, because it requires not only purchasing seeds (you can collect them from own bushes), but also growing them at certain temperature and humidity. The negative aspect of growing mouse hyacinth using seeds is the flowering time, which will only occur in 3-4 years.

Compared to this method, vegetative propagation of muscari will delight you with rapid flowering: young bulbs, separated from the mother bulb in September, will produce the first flowers in the spring. What is needed in order to obtain new planting material? Following:

dig up a two-year-old bulb in September;
Gently shake off clods of earth, separate small baby bulbs from large ones;
dry in the sun, can be treated with preparations that stimulate root formation;
Plant the mother bulbs in a permanent place, and the children in a growing bed. The distance between the bulbs is 1-3 cm;
shed the flowers and leave them to winter until spring. In the spring, adult plants will produce flowers, and children will produce only greenery, by which one can judge the power of the future bush and the health of the entire plant.

The method of propagation of muscari you choose will help you obtain enough planting material to decorate a flowerbed, ridge, alpine slide. And the garden will surprise both the household and the guest with bright blue accent spots.

Muscari: combination with other plants, or complete harmony visually

Low-growing muscari is the flower of the first line after ground covers, as well as alyssum, purslane or other creeping flowering plants. Planting it among tall salvia, climbing roses or gladioli, for example, is impractical: it simply will not be visible.

The optimal solution is to plant viper onions in groups or in the foreground in front of other plants. At the same time, do not forget that the flower grows significantly in volume over the years; it is worth leaving enough space.

An interesting combination of mouse hyacinth with yellow daffodils or red tulips, which can be the first to be found in the spring in the garden. And then - only your imagination! Some varieties of petunias, low-growing salvia, ranunculus and snapdragons will look interesting with it. He will also find company among the perennials!

The main thing is a sunny place and sufficient territory. And you know about care, watering and other subtleties. Choose a variety according to the photo in the catalog and decorate your flowerbed with muscari!