Grape hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum

Hardy spring bulb with dense spikes of small, blue, grape-like flowers.

Hardiness ratings

Grape hyacinth hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −34.4 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H6 −20 °C to −15 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 4–8 −29 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–5 −15 °C to 10 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

About Grape hyacinth

Grape hyacinth is neither a grape nor a hyacinth, though it is a close relative of the latter — the name comes from the tight cluster of small rounded flowers, which does resemble a miniature bunch of grapes. It naturalises very readily and can become a persistent colonist in lawns and borders, spreading both by seed and by producing offsets around the parent bulb. The leaves commonly appear in autumn, months before the flowers, and look untidy through winter, which regularly worries gardeners who assume something has gone wrong.

Growing notes

  • Dense spikes of small blue, grape-like spring flowers; naturalises freely in sun or light shade
  • A hardy, easy bulb that multiplies quickly and can spread enthusiastically
  • Grown ornamentally — the bulbs are not edible

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Grape hyacinth against your zones

Reference

Grape hyacinth on Wikipedia