Muscari armeniacum
Encyclopedia
Muscari armeniacum is an bulbous plant
of the genus Muscari with basal, simple leaves
and short, flowering stems. It is one of a number of species and genera known as Grape Hyacinth, in this case Armenian Grape Hyacinth. The flowers are purple, blue (with a white fringe), or white and the plants are usually 15 centimetres (6 in) tall. M. armeniacum blooms in mid-Spring (April or May in the Northern Hemisphere
) for 3-4 weeks. Some selections are fragrant. Established bulbs leaf in the autumn.
M. armeniacum is widespread in the woods and meadows of the Eastern Mediterranean, from Greece
and Turkey
to the Caucasus
.
Cultivars include 'Argaei Album', 'Album', 'Blue Spike', 'Cantab', 'Côte d'Azur', 'Dark Eyes, 'Early Giant', 'Fantasy Creation', 'Peppermint', 'Saphir', and 'Valerie Finnis'. The commonly available form is often referred to as M. armeniacum 'Blue'.
'Blue Spike' is a double flowered variety, with double florets on the flower stalk.
'Fantasy Creation' is a sport (a naturally occurring genetic mutation) of 'Blue Spike'.
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
of the genus Muscari with basal, simple leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
and short, flowering stems. It is one of a number of species and genera known as Grape Hyacinth, in this case Armenian Grape Hyacinth. The flowers are purple, blue (with a white fringe), or white and the plants are usually 15 centimetres (6 in) tall. M. armeniacum blooms in mid-Spring (April or May in the Northern Hemisphere
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of a planet that is north of its equator—the word hemisphere literally means “half sphere”. It is also that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator...
) for 3-4 weeks. Some selections are fragrant. Established bulbs leaf in the autumn.
M. armeniacum is widespread in the woods and meadows of the Eastern Mediterranean, from Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
to the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
Cultivation
M. armeniacum is one of the most commonly cultivated species of Muscari and naturalises easily. It appeared in European gardens in 1871.Cultivars include 'Argaei Album', 'Album', 'Blue Spike', 'Cantab', 'Côte d'Azur', 'Dark Eyes, 'Early Giant', 'Fantasy Creation', 'Peppermint', 'Saphir', and 'Valerie Finnis'. The commonly available form is often referred to as M. armeniacum 'Blue'.
'Blue Spike' is a double flowered variety, with double florets on the flower stalk.
'Fantasy Creation' is a sport (a naturally occurring genetic mutation) of 'Blue Spike'.