Yesterday I pulled the car over to take a photo of a grouping of grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum). The temperature was in the low 40’s and by the minute the weather changed from overcast to partial sun, to rain showers, to snow showers. The grape hyacinth loved it.
When I was a kid we had grape hyacinth growing in the yard under spruce trees. It was a dry, shady spot and they would reliably bloom every spring. They never formed a clump but getting anything to bloom under those trees was a miracle. Once the bloom was done you forgot they were there.
I’ve never planted grape hyacinth because to me it’s an outdated plant, like yews and pachysandra. However, we should choose plants with the best chance of success where they’re planted while not becoming invasive.
How many plants thrive on the side of a cut in a ledge?
If you want early-spring color and have a dry spot with full to partial sun try Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum). There are plenty of grape hyacinth cultivars available that range in color from whites to shades of lavender and there’s even a double flowering grape hyacinth.
Comments
4 responses to “Grape Hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) Tough as Nails”
That is a great picture! Your weather is starting to sound like ours. It is extremely windy – for days, and suppose to get down to the mid 20’s to night and barely above freezing on Easter Sunday. Speaking of things growing out of rocks, I have a client with flag stone retaining wall and there is sedum, bergenia,and a small spruce tree growing out of little crevices. How they have survive for so long is beyond me.
Also speaking of the climate in Fargo, I have a client that wants me to design a Tuscany theme for her court yard and get it installed this summer. Help!!!!
Have a Happy Easter, John & family. Stay safe and well!
The wind made it here two days ago. It’s been brisk but a ‘warmer’ brisk. I’m always amazed at how much plants want to survive, growing out of ledges, walls, under spruce trees.
Tuscany theme. First I’d have to Google Tuscany and figure out what that means and then figure out if I can live with myself forcing that style on the landscape. It looks like a southwestern, dry climate style. Good luck!
I have Googled it and searched Zone 3 and 4 plants that will look like pinnacle cypress and tightly sheared boxwood in a 15 X 33 foot area with limited planting area because of a cobble stone seating area,with a fountain and a 33′ sidewalk with an arbor over it – William Baffin Roses on one side and Dropmore Honeysuckles on the other side.Oh, and it gets only a few hours of direct sunlight. Large decorative pots are also part of a Tuscany landscape, They should survive in our zone without much sun. I’m giving it a lot of thought and have a good landscaper friend giving it some thought, then we will compare notes. Nothing like a good challenge.
I agree, the bigger the challenge the more fun as long as it’s something that can be done. I usually end up banging my head against the wall for a while, walk away and then it comes to me bit by bit. It sounds like you’re well on the right path.