Muscari planting and care in the open field: a description of the 23 best species and varieties, application

Muscari flowers bear an amazing resemblance to hyacinths. Therefore, gardeners and flower growers call it mouse hyacinth. Muscari is the first to wake up and bloom after the winter frosts. The name of the plant was due to its delicate musky aroma, which comes from numerous flowers in the form of bells. Muscari flower care features are quite simple, it easily tolerates frosts, which allows flower growers to plant in open ground in late autumn.

Description and features

In its natural environment, the plant is found in forests and on the mountain slopes of the Crimean Peninsula, the Caucasus, the 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. Max flower height 30-35cm.
2. Leaves are narrow, long, green, regrow in autumn.
3. The peduncle is tall in the form of a bunch of grapes, with many small flowers of bluebells in purple, blue, white and light blue.
4. The flower is resistant to sudden changes in temperature and frost.
5. After the spring flowering period, the plant fades completely.
6. Due to early flowering, the plant is rarely exposed to diseases and pests.

Important! For Muscari bulbs and flowers, birds are not dangerous, because the plant contains substances poisonous to birds.

Views

Today, more than 60 types of Muscari are known. But flower growers and gardeners prefer plants with resistant characteristics to temperature changes and frosts.

Armenian

Muscari "Armenicum" species 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 a white border at the bottom of the inflorescence smoothly transition to lighter flowers at the top of the plant.

Panciform

The vine-shaped Muscari has been used in ornamental 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 variety Muscari is larger. In nature, there are blue, blue, white and pink varieties of flowers.

Broadleaf

The species is distinguished by wide leaf plates, which are more like tulip leaves. A dense inflorescence with bells of dark blue flowers forms on the peduncle. Several sprouts grow from each planted bulb of this variety.

Pale

Short plant 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.

Oshe

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 an excess of moisture.

Pretty

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

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.

White-green

White Muscari will grow up to 20 cm. 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 up to 25 cm. The active phase of flowering begins in May. Inflorescences are yellow, with a brown frame. The variety is thermophilic, does not tolerate frost.

Coramiform

Racemes of Muscari will grow up to 12 cm. 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 species "Azure" meets on the mountain slopes in Turkey. The plant tolerates temperature changes well, but does not like excessive moisture. It enters the flowering phase in April. Inflorescences are dense, blue and blue shades.

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 periods and decorative properties. Therefore, a competent 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

Flower up to 25 cm, enters the flowering phase in late spring. Inflorescences are terry, branched, with multiple blue bells. Up to 170 flowers are placed on one inflorescence.

Cantab

Perennial variety Muscari. The active phase of flowering occurs in May. Inflorescences are dense, with blue-blue flowers.

Christmas Pearl

Christmas Pearl variety has beautiful, large inflorescences of purple hues.

Flight of fantasy

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 is at the end of spring. The inflorescences are dense, blue hues, with a white border at the tips of the bells.

Plumozum

Komozum Plumozum variety belongs to crested species of Muscari. The flower is distinguished by its decorative, hairy appearance and pleasant aroma.

Sky Blue

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

Sapphire

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

Alba

White inflorescences of the Alba variety will decorate flower beds and spring garden compositions. It enters the phase of active flowering 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. Flowering period 2-3 weeks.

Spreader

Muscari varieties "Album" are suitable for decorating garden alpine landscapes and flower beds. The plant blooms in mid-spring. Inflorescences are dense, white.

Gardening

Muscari is an unpretentious plant and does not require special care. A flower in its natural environment grows 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

Bulb culture is planted in open ground in autumn. But if autumn work is missed, then flowers can be planted in early spring.

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

How to plant

Before planting the bulbs in open ground, they are inspected. The seed must not show obvious damage and signs of decay. Next, the bulbs are poured with a solution of manganese or other disinfectants and left for 30-40 minutes. Landing 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 onions deepen no more than 3 cm.

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

Important! It is in large groups that Muscari gives the best decorative result.

Features of care

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

Irrigation

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

Feeding

If there are no nutrients and useful substances in the soil, the plant is fed with organic fertilizers. In autumn, the soil is mixed with humus.

Flowering

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

Transfer

Repot a spring flower every 5 years. On well-groomed and fertile soil, the plant can not be touched for up to 10 years, but then you still have to replant. Muscari tolerate a change of place well, therefore, for decorative purposes, sprouts that have already grown from bulbs can be transplanted.

Forcing

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

Reproduction

Even a novice gardener or florist can handle the reproduction of spring flowers on a personal plot.

Vegetative method

During the season, up to 30 babies are formed at the mother bulb, which are carefully separated and seated.

Self-seeding

Muscari has the ability to self-reproduce. After flowering, seed pods are formed, which open and the seeds fall into the ground. To control the number of Muscari livestock, only a few specimens of plants are left and after the seeds ripen they are harvested.

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 happen with spring primroses.

Mosaic

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

Aphid

Poor-quality planting material, may be infected with aphid larvae that are 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 a case occurs, then the plant requires urgent inspection and processing. To prevent diseases and pests, plants are sprayed with soapy water or special preparations.

After flowering

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

Preparing for wintering

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

Irrigation

While Muscari leaves are green, water the plant. And as soon as they begin to turn yellow and dry, irrigation work stops.

Transfer

Repotting spring primrose is required every 5 years, and more often if necessary. If the flower does not develop at the site of its current growth and blooms poorly, then it's time to find a new place for it in the garden. The emerging new bulbs are carefully separated from the mother plant and transplanted as an independent flower.

Mulching

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

Storage of bulbs

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

1. The onion is ready for wintering outside the ground if all the leaves have turned yellow and dried up.
2. All planting material is carefully dried in natural conditions.
3. Put the bulbs in a container with peat or pre-moistened sand.
4. Planting material is stored in comfortable conditions at a temperature of +15 to 17 degrees.

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

Mouse hyacinth at home

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

Answers to questions

Why isn't it blooming?

If the plant stops flowering, this is the first sign that it is time to repot or divide the bulbs.

What to do if sprouted in autumn?

Some Muscaré varieties develop and germinate quickly when planted in autumn. For flowers, this does not threaten death, they will calmly winter with leaves, and in the spring they will actively begin to grow.

Application

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

Traditional medicine

Infusions from the plant are used as antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drugs, help with severe stress and neurosis.

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

Landscapers and florists love Muscari flowers for their high decorative qualities. In combination with other early cultures, beautiful spring compositions, alpine slides and rocky gardens are created.

Reviews

Elena Nikolaevna, Moscow Region

Planted last year at Muscari's dacha of several varieties. Absolutely unpretentious and hardy flowers. Bloomed for a very long time. One variety faded, another immediately bloomed. Beauty was enjoyed all spring and half of summer.

Irina Grigoryevna, Samara

For three years, my spring begins with the appearance of the Mouse Hyacinth. The flowers, although small, are very beautiful and fragrant, and care for them is not needed at all. I will buy other varieties of these flowers.

Inna Petrovna, Petrozavodsk

They planted Muscari in the garden, they thought that they would not take root, our land is very bad. All the bulbs grew and bloomed for a long time with beautiful blue and purple flowers. So I think, dig them up for the winter, or can I leave them in the ground?

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