Description of the 23 best varieties and types of Muscari plants, planting and care in open ground

Muscari flowers bear a striking resemblance to hyacinth. Therefore, gardeners and flower growers call it mouse hyacinth. Muscari is the first to wake up and bloom after winter frosts. The plant received its name due to its delicate musky aroma, which comes from numerous bell-shaped flowers. The features of caring for the Muscari flower are quite simple; it easily tolerates frost, which allows gardeners to plant it in open ground at the end of autumn.

Description and features

In its natural environment, the plant is found in forests and on mountain slopes of the Crimean Peninsula, the Caucasus, Mediterranean countries, Asia, Africa and Europe. Muscari belongs to the bulbous plants of the asparagus family. Previously, the flower was classified as a variety of hyacinths.

Characteristics and features of Muscari:

1. The maximum flower height is 30-35cm.
2. The leaves are narrow, long, green, and re-grow in the fall.
3. The peduncle is tall, grape-shaped, with many small bell-shaped flowers in purple, blue, white and blue shades.
4. The flower is resistant to sudden temperature changes and frosts.
5. After the spring flowering period, the plant completely withers.
6. Due to early flowering, the plant is rarely exposed to diseases and pests.

Important! Birds do not pose a danger to Muscari bulbs and flowers, because the plant contains substances that are poisonous to birds.

Kinds

To date, more than 60 species of Muscari are known. But flower growers and gardeners give preference to plants with resistant characteristics to temperature changes and frost.

Armenian

The type of Muscari "Armenicum" is distinguished by its unpretentiousness to climatic conditions. The active flowering period begins in late spring and lasts about 3 weeks. The inflorescences of "Armeniacum" are dense. Blue bells with white the border at the bottom of the inflorescence smoothly transitions to the lighter flowers at the top of the plant.

bunch-shaped

The cluster-shaped Muscari species has been used in decorative floriculture since the late 16th century. This type of plant has gained great popularity among gardeners, although its flowers are smaller than those of other varieties of this crop. But the color range of the grape-shaped Muscari variety is greater. In nature, there are blue, light blue, white and pink varieties of flowers.

broadleaf

The species is distinguished by wide leaf blades that are more similar to tulip leaves. A dense inflorescence with bells of dark blue flowers is formed on the peduncle. Each bulb of this variety produces several shoots.

Pale

The low plant is most often found in the mountains. The inflorescences are small but dense, white, blue, sometimes pink.

Crested

When crested muscari blooms, a tuft forms in the upper part of the peduncle. Therefore, the plant has two tiers, purple bells on the peduncle itself and small purple flowers on the tuft.

Osha

The beautiful garden pet "Oshe" comes from Iran. The active flowering phase occurs in mid-spring. The inflorescences are dense, of various blue shades, occasionally there are lighter flowers, leaves of an unusual crescent shape. The flower quickly dies from excess moisture.

Pretty

This is the earliest species of Muscari from the Mediterranean countries, which enters the active flowering phase at the end of winter. A low plant with dense inflorescences of dark blue color.

Long-flowered

Muscari of this species is found on the slopes of Transcaucasia and the Alpine mountain belt.The maximum height of the peduncle is 15 cm. During the flowering period it is covered with blue bell-shaped flowers. Each inflorescence has up to 50 small flowers.

Belozevny

White-green Muscari will grow up to 20 cm. The inflorescences are dense, with dark purple flowers that have white teeth along the edges.

Large-fruited

In its natural environment, the plant is found in Greece and Turkey. Flower height is up to 25 cm. The active flowering phase begins in May. The inflorescences are yellow, with a brown frame. The variety is heat-loving and does not tolerate frost.

Racemose

The racemose type of Muscari will grow up to 12 cm. The inflorescences are dense with blue bells. The active flowering period occurs at the end of spring and lasts 3-4 weeks.

Azure

In its natural environment, the “Azure” species is found on mountain slopes in Turkey. The plant tolerates temperature changes well, but does not like excessive moisture. It enters the flowering phase in April. The inflorescences are dense, blue and dark blue.

Important! Each type of plant is divided into varieties that differ in size, leaves and inflorescences, as well as colors.

Popular varieties

Each variety of flowers has different flowering times and decorative properties. Therefore, proper planting of Muscari in open ground will allow you to enjoy beautiful views and pleasant aromas of flowering plants for a long time.

Blue Spike

The flower is up to 25 cm high and enters the flowering phase in late spring. The inflorescences are double, branched, with multiple blue bells. One inflorescence contains up to 170 flowers.

Cantab

Perennial variety Muscari. The active flowering phase begins in May. The inflorescences are dense, with blue-blue flowers.

Christmas pearl

The “Christmas Pearl” variety is distinguished by beautiful, large inflorescences of purple shades.

Flight of fancy

An unusual Muscari variety with greenish and blue flowers.

Dark Eyes

The variety grows up to 25 cm, the leaves are narrow, dark green. The flowering period occurs at the end of spring. The inflorescences are dense, blue in color, with a white border at the tips of the bells.

Plumosum

The variety "Comosum Plumosum" belongs to the crested species of Muscari. The flower is distinguished by its decorative, shaggy appearance and pleasant aroma.

Sky Blue

Perennial variety Muscari. The inflorescences are dense, blue bell-shaped flowers with a light, pleasant aroma.

Sapphire

Frost-resistant variety. Active flowering begins in April. The inflorescences are dense, with small blue bells with a silver tint.

Alba

The white inflorescences of the Alba variety will decorate flower beds and spring garden compositions. It enters the active flowering phase in March.

Big smile

The variety is distinguished by large inflorescences up to 12 cm in light blue shades with a white frame around the edges. Begins to bloom in mid-spring. The flowering period is 2-3 weeks.

Razletayka

Muscari of the "Album" variety are suitable for decorating garden alpine landscapes and flower beds. The plant blooms in mid-spring. The inflorescences are dense and white.

Growing in the garden

Muscari is an unpretentious plant and does not require special care. The flower grows in its natural environment in difficult conditions of mountain slopes and forests. Therefore, the plant is undemanding to the composition of the soil and grows even in the most infertile areas.

When to plant

The bulbous crop is planted in open ground in the fall. But if autumn work is missed, then flowers can be planted in early spring.

Before planting the plant, the soil is carefully loosened to a depth of 8 to 10 cm.

How to plant

Before planting the bulbs in open ground, they are inspected.There should be no obvious damage or signs of rotting on the seed. Next, the bulbs are filled with manganese solution or other disinfectants and left for 30-40 minutes. Planting holes are prepared in advance and watered. The depth of the holes is 7-10 cm. The larger the bulbs, the more they should be deepened. Small bulbs deepen no more than 3 cm.

A distance of 5 to 10 cm is maintained between the holes.

Important! It is in large groups that Muscari give the best decorative results.

Features of care

To obtain large flowers with bright inflorescences, lime is added to soil with a high acid content. The plant will develop in acidic soil, but its decorative properties will be lost. The plant does not tolerate waterlogging of the soil, so it is planted away from groundwater and soil water.

Watering

Active growth begins in early spring, when the soil is well moistened after winter precipitation and rains. And since the flower does not like excess moisture, it does not require systematic irrigation. Water the plant only when necessary. If there is no precipitation during the active flowering phase, the plant requires additional soil moisture.

Top dressing

If the soil lacks nutrients and beneficial substances, the plant is fed with organic fertilizers. In autumn, the soil is mixed with humus.

Bloom

The flowering time of Muscari differs from its variety and varieties. Some plant varieties bloom at the end of February, while there are species that enter the flowering phase only in June.

Transfer

The spring flower is replanted every 5 years. On well-groomed and fertile soil, the plant can be left untouched for up to 10 years, but then it will still have to be replanted.Muscari tolerate a change of location well, so for decorative purposes, sprouts that have already grown from the bulbs can be replanted.

Forcing

Each crop variety has its own flowering period. Therefore, for forcing plants, bulbs of the same varieties are selected.

Reproduction

Even a novice gardener or florist can cope with the propagation of spring flowers in a personal plot.

Vegetative method

During the season, the mother bulb produces up to 30 children, which are carefully separated and seated.

Self-seeding

Muscari has the ability to reproduce independently. After flowering, seed pods are formed, which open and the seeds fall into the ground. To control the population of Muscari, only a few plant specimens are left and collected after the seeds have ripened.

Diseases and pests

Most varieties of this plant, due to the early flowering period, are not susceptible to diseases and pests. But there are times when troubles also happen to spring primroses.

Mosaic

The main cause of the disease is an infected flower bulb. When green or cucumber mosaic disease occurs, peculiar patterns appear on the leaves, and they themselves become deformed.

Aphid

Poor quality planting material may be infected with aphid larvae that are found in plant bulbs. In this case, the plant must be dug up and destroyed to avoid further infection of neighboring flowers.

Spider mite

Muscari is rarely affected by spider mites. But if such an incident occurs, then the plant requires urgent inspection and treatment. To prevent diseases and pests, plants are sprayed with a soap solution or special preparations.

After flowering

After the end of the active flowering period, the plants also require some care.

Preparing for winter

The flower stalks are carefully removed, after which the flower is fed with fertilizers containing phosphorus or potassium.

Watering

While Muscari's leaves are green, the plant is watered. And as soon as they begin to turn yellow and dry out, irrigation work stops.

Transfer

Spring primroses need to be replanted every 5 years, and more often if necessary. If a flower does not develop at its current location and blooms poorly, then it’s time to find a new place for it in the garden. The new bulbs that appear are carefully separated from the mother plant and replanted as an independent flower.

Mulching

If the plants are recently planted in open ground, then in the autumn peat must be added to the soil and the soil must be mulched.

Bulb storage

In the northern regions, during the winter, flower bulbs are dug out of the ground and sent for storage:

1. The bulb is ready for wintering outside the ground if all the leaves have turned yellow and dried out.
2. All planting material is thoroughly dried under natural conditions.
3. Place the bulbs in a container with peat or pre-moistened sand.
4. Planting material is stored in comfortable conditions at temperatures from +15 to 17 degrees.

Important! During storage of bulbs, it is necessary to control the moisture content of peat or sand.

Mouse hyacinth at home

Grow Mouse indoor hyacinth conditions are not difficult. It is necessary to select the largest bulbs and keep them at a temperature of +9 degrees for 2-3 months. Next, plant it in a pot and follow the basic rules of watering and temperature conditions.In this case, the plant will decorate the home with its primroses.

Answers on questions

Why doesn't it bloom?

If the plant stops blooming, this is the first sign that it is time to replant it or separate the bulbs.

What to do if they sprouted in the fall?

Some varieties of Muscare quickly develop and germinate when planted in autumn. This does not threaten the flowers with death; they will quietly overwinter with leaves, and in the spring they will actively begin to grow.

Application

Muscari contains many useful substances that have found their use in medicine and cosmetology.

ethnoscience

Infusions from the plant are used as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents, helping with severe stress and neuroses.

The essential oil of the flower helps with diseases of the bronchial system.

Cosmetology

The high content of essential oils in the plant allows it to be used in cosmetology. Creams, tonics and balms are made from plant extracts.

Landscape design

Landscape designers and florists love Muscari flowers for their high decorative properties. In combination with other early crops, beautiful spring compositions, alpine hills and rocky gardens are created.

Reviews

Elena Nikolaevna, Moscow region

Last year we planted several varieties at the Muscari dacha. Completely unpretentious and hardy flowers. They bloomed for a very long time. One variety faded and another immediately blossomed. We enjoyed the beauty all spring and half of the summer.

Irina Grigorievna, Samara

For three years now, spring has begun for me with the appearance of Mouse Hyacinth. The flowers, although small, are very beautiful and fragrant, and they don’t need any care at all. I will buy other varieties of these flowers.

Inna Petrovna, Petrozavodsk

We planted Muscari in the garden, we thought that it wouldn’t take root, our soil is very bad.All the bulbs grew and bloomed for a long time with beautiful blue and purple flowers. So I’m thinking, should I dig them up for the winter, or can I leave them in the ground?