By Julie Christensen
aboriginal to Asia and southern Europe , grape jacinth ( Muscari armeniacum)make a long - lived , sustenance - free addition to the leaping bulb garden . Unlike tulips , they do n’t peter out after a year , but steadily fan out over several years . In fact , you may have to fag them up after a few yr to keep them in spring . Grape hyacinth bulb are also leisurely to plant than most bounce bulb because they only need a planting profundity of 3 inches .
Grape hyacinth flowers belong to to the lily folk and are distantly related to tohyacinths . They ’re smaller than regular hyacinths , growing only 8 inches tall . They produce clusters of blue or purple flowers on fragile stubble that resemble bantam bunches of grapes . The flowers are perfumed , although their fragrancy miss the foolhardy intensity of jacinth .
Unlike most give flowering bulbs , the strap - like foliation of grape vine hyacinths dies back in the saltation after the works bloom , only to reemerge in downslope . The foliage exist through the winter unless the atmospheric condition is passing cold . Grape hyacinth are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8 . They need at least 10 to 12 weeks of cold dormancy to flower well in the fountain .
Planting and Growing Grape Hyacinths
purchase and plant grape jacinth in mass for the practiced show . Choose bulbs that are firm and destitute of any nicks or slash . Avoid those with black floater or other house of fungal disease . Plant the small , onion - shape bulbs in the fall , at least six weeks before the first heavy freeze so the tooth root become established . remediate the soil with compost and a second of bone meal at planting fourth dimension .
Plant grape hyacinth in sun or shade . They ’ll grow more cursorily in sun , but peak tend to last longer in partial shade . Grape hyacinths bloom for three weeks in mid - to - former bound , a bit later than most other springtime - bloom bulb , so the leaves may already have unfurled on deciduous Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree . This is crucial to think back . Most spring - blooming bulbs bloom before trees bear leave , so they have full sun even when implant under trees . This may not be the case with grape hyacinths .
Water the medulla immediately after planting them and again in the fountain , as soon as new growth come forth . Keep the soil slightly moist during the flowering time of year . thin back the leaf only after it completely dies back to the flat coat in former summertime . fertilise grape hyacinths after blossom with ¼ loving cup pearl meal for every 100 straight feet of dirt .
Potential Pests and Problems
grapeshot hyacinths are broadly pest and job liberal , although they are prone to virus . Plant the bulbs in well - drain grime and space them adequately . Use soaker hoses , rather than overhead sprinklers to control the spread of disease and take away any diseased works promptly .
grapeshot hyacinths spread both by part and ego - seeding and they can become invasive . establish them in rock music gardens , container or other surface area with clearly delineate edge . Dig up and divide the plants in fall if they become too numerous .
Varieties to Try
To learn more about grape vine hyacinths , chew the fat the following links :
Grape Hyacinth : humble Plants with Big Impactfrom Iowa State University filename extension
Grape Hyacinthfrom the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
A expert video overview of growing grape hyacinth onYouTube .
