Muscari-like flowers. Muscari: the blue of fairy bells in your garden. Muscari broadleaf Muscari latifolium

Muscari (lat. Muscari) – an early spring flower popular in ornamental culture. Received its recognition thanks to the pale blue inflorescences of bells, shaped like small pyramids. Also, this small bulbous plant is in demand by gardeners because of its early flowering and unpretentious care. The flower has many names. Mostly it is known under the names mouse hyacinth, viper onion and muscari. Each of the names has its own history.

Did you know? The flower got its first name because of its external resemblance to hyacinth and miniature size. People also noticed that snakes often live near these plants, which is why they called it viper onions or viper grass. Most likely, such a neighborhood was explained by the fact that both flowers and snakes love warmth and the sun. The Muscari flower was named by the English botanist Philip Miller, thus noting the smell of the plant, similar to musk.

In addition, in England this culture is called grape hyacinth (the inflorescences are somewhat similar to bunches of grapes), and in France - earthen lilac.

There is some disagreement as to which family Muscari belongs to. Some scientists classify mouse hyacinth as a member of the asparagus family, others prefer to consider it hyacinth, and earlier this plant was included in the lists of the lily family.

The Muscari genus includes 63 species. Varieties of the plant differ in flowers, shades and forms of inflorescences, flowering period, stem length, degree of resistance to frost. We invite you to get acquainted with the common types and varieties of muscari that are used in horticultural culture.

The key to identifying types of muscari

Key for identifying plant species – is an algorithm described or implemented in a CAE system that helps identify plant species. When using the key, you need to answer the question about one or more characteristics of the plant culture, for example, about the color of the inflorescences or the shape of the leaves.

The key for determining the types of muscari is built according to the dichotomous principle. In order to use it, it is necessary at each step to compare the viper bow with the proposed two alternative signs and choose the thesis (indicated by a number) or antithesis (indicated by "+"). The next step after choosing the thesis and antithesis will be the transition to the number indicated opposite the selected item.

Example:

1. Flowers blue or lighter in color......2. + Darker colored flowers......7.

Thus, if the Muscari, the species of which you want to identify, has flowers of a darker color, then you need to choose an antithesis and go to step number 7. If the flowers are blue or lighter in color, then you need to choose thesis "1" and go to step "2".

With each choice of the thesis or antithesis, you will move to the next step until the type of plant is determined.

Species identification is best done when the plant retains its natural organ position and color, i.e. when fresh.
The key is constructed in such a way that at first it is proposed to identify the above-ground parts of the plant, then the underground ones, and at the end - signs that can be considered only with a magnifying glass. To accurately determine the species, it is necessary to find out the structure of the plant at the anatomical level.

The key to identifying Muscari species can be found in the Encyclopedia of Ornamental Garden Plants (EDSR)

Important! Identification of the species with the help of the key will be only hypothetical. For a more precise definition, one should refer to authoritative sources, for example, to monographs, where this species is fully and in detail described. It is also possible to compare with photographs of plant samples, certified by the name of the scientist, which can be found on the Internet.

Muscari types

Almost all types of viper onions are decorative. In addition, interesting Muscari varieties have been bred within some species.

Muscari Armenian

The most famous and widespread in the decorative and garden culture is Armenian Muscari (Muscari armeniacum), or Colchis Muscari (Muscari colchicum). The name of the flower refers to its homeland - Transcaucasia. Also in the wild lives in the mountain meadows and steppes of Turkey, in Central and Western Asia, the Mediterranean.

You can recognize it by almost spherical cluster inflorescences with dark blue flowers, framed by a white border.

To the top, the flowers in the inflorescences are distinguished by a lighter color. The peduncle is quite high - up to 20 cm. The flowering period is May. The flower reaches a height of 12-20 cm, the inflorescence contains 40-50 bells. Tolerates frost well.

Muscari armenicum was one of the first to be cultivated. So, within this species, many varieties have been bred, the most popular of which is Blue Spike. This variety is unique because it gives up to 170 flowers in one inflorescence.

Also, this flower is late flowering - usually the flowering period occurs two weeks later than other varieties. The flowers of "Blue Spike" are bright blue, double, have a pleasant aroma.

Did you know? The beauty of "Blue Spike" was awarded an international prize in 1963.

Also favorite among gardeners are varieties Alba, Fantasy creation, Cantab, Christmas Pearl.

Armenian Muscari flowers are planted under the crowns of trees, in flower beds, in mixborders, used for bouquets.

Muscari botryoides (Muscari botryoides) attracts attention with large inflorescences (10-15 cm in height) of blue, purple and white flowers. The flowering period of this species begins in May, the duration of flowering is 12-20 days. The peduncle contains up to 40 bells. It has a high degree of winter hardiness.
This species has been common in horticultural culture since the 16th century. Popular is the variety with white, reminiscent of lilies of the valley, inflorescences Album and muscari with pink flowers - Carneum.

In addition to planting in flower beds in the garden, muscari is used for planting in a pot culture and for cutting.

Important! All cultivated plants of the Muscari genus are unpretentious. They grow both in the shade and in the sun, they are not demanding on soil and watering. Also resistant to diseases and pests.

The main distinguishing feature of broad-leaved muscari (Muscari latifolium) are wide leaves, like those of a tulip. The inflorescences of this species are dense, in the form of cylinders, high (up to 25 cm).
Peduncles are painted in different shades: from below they are dark blue, almost purple, in the center they are blue, and closer to the top they are blue. Each of them holds up to a hundred bells. Muscari broadleaf is also characterized by a long flowering period - 20-25 days. Thermophilic.

Used for group landings.

Muscari pale

This species was named because of the pale blue color of the flowers. During the flowering period, thickets of pale muscari look like delicate flower rugs. Such refinement of the shade is increasingly attracting the attention of flower growers. Particularly valuable is the White Rose Beauty variety with unusual pale pink inflorescences. But to meet Muscari pallens in the wild is a rarity.
Peduncles in this species are very small - 10-12 cm, contain 15-30 flowers. This viper onion blooms at the end of May for 10-15 days.

Muscari crested (Muscari comosum) stands out among other species with a loose multi-flowered inflorescence with a crest of blue-violet color on long arcuate pedicels. The inflorescence arrow can reach 70 cm in height. The plant itself grows up to 20 cm. It blooms late - in May-June. By the end of flowering, the inflorescence grows very large. This species is winter hardy.
In the garden, the Plumosum variety is most often planted. Crested muscari, unusual in its decorative effect, will look beautiful in mixborders with perennials, against the background of ground cover crops.

Muscari (lat. Muscari), or viper bow, or mouse hyacinth- This is a genus of bulbous perennial plants of the Asparagaceae family (Asparagaceae), although earlier it was assigned to the Hyacinth or Lily family. It has about 60 species, naturally growing among shrubs, on forest edges and on the slopes of the mountains of Central and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, the Crimea and the Mediterranean. Muscari flowers are one of the earliest spring flowers, often grown as cut flowers. Muscari plant has a pleasant and rather strong aroma. Muscari garden flowers, miniature and graceful, are the decoration of lawns, they are used in discounts and rock gardens, as well as border plants.

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Planting and caring for muscari (in brief)

• Landing: autumn, in October.
• Bloom: spring.
• Lighting: bright sunlight, partial shade.
• The soil: any.
• Watering: if the winter was snowy or the spring was wet, then watering is not needed at all.
• Top dressing: when digging the site, humus or compost is added at the rate of 5 kg per m².
• Reproduction: self-sowing and vegetative: separating the children from the mother bulb and planting them in the ground.
• Pests: aphids, spider mites.
• Diseases: onion yellow dwarf and cucumber mosaic viruses.

Read more about growing muscari below.

Muscari flowers - description

Muscari bulbs are ovoid, with light outer scales, 1.5-3.5 cm long and up to 2 cm in diameter. Leaves - basal, linear, up to 17 cm long and up to six pieces - appear in spring, but may appear again in autumn . Muscari grow up to 30 cm in height. Their peduncle is leafless, the flowers have cylindrical, barrel-shaped or tubular perianths, consisting of six fused petals, bent along the edge. Color - from white to dark blue, length - about 0.5 cm and the same in diameter. The flowers are collected in dense inflorescences, racemose or apical, up to 8 cm long. The fruit is a winged, three-celled box, spherical or heart-shaped, with small wrinkled black seeds, the germination of which lasts only for a year. This genus has two significant advantages: almost all types are decorative and, in addition, muscari are completely unpretentious.

Growing muscari in the garden

Muscari is very popular in floriculture. They look great both in rock gardens and in decorative garden vases, and undersized varieties are successfully used for borders. Muscari are very beautiful in multi-tiered flower beds, in composition with other spring flowers: against the background of densely growing lilac-blue muscari, islands of taller early-flowering tulips or daffodils look very impressive. The combination of blue muscari with orange hazel grouse is magnificent.

In the photo: Pink Muscari

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Muscari (lat. Muscari) is a small bulbous herbaceous perennial plant from the Asparagus family. In nature, you can find more than 60 species of this attractive and surprisingly touching plant. Muscari flowers are graceful and miniature, from 10 to 40 cm high. This is one of the first spring flowers with a pleasant aroma. It blooms in early spring, some species until June, with rich blue, pale blue, white flowers of an unusual cylindrical shape, creating a bright and positive mood in the garden awakening from winter.

In group plantings, muscari decorate lawns, garden plots, the plant is often used in rock gardens and discounts. Turkey is considered the birthplace of Muscari, the plant is common in Europe, the Caucasus, the Crimea and the Mediterranean countries. In nature, it can be found on mountain slopes, edges or alpine meadows. There are other names for the flower, because of its small size and amazing resemblance to hyacinth, it is also called viper onion or mouse hyacinth. Muscari is grown for cutting, it is perfect for distillation and is able to decorate a balcony or window sill with its unusual flowering in winter.

Muscari description

Muscari is a perennial bulbous low plant, its height can be from 10 to 40 cm. The bulbs are small, ovoid, with light outer scales. The diameter of the bulbs is from 2-4 cm, in varietal muscaria - up to 4-5 cm. Having a very short vegetative period, which occurs in the spring, muscari belongs to ephemeroid plants. For most of the year, after flowering, muscari is in a dormant stage - the ground part dies off, and the bulb accumulates all the nutrients it needs during the year in order to bloom again next spring. The leaves of the plant are narrow, collected in several pieces in a basal bundle, the length of the leaves is from 10 to 17 cm.
Muscari flowers are collected in lush inflorescences of the brush or apical inflorescences, up to 8 cm long, in their shape they resemble hyacinth or lily of the valley, they have a delicate, pleasant, slightly intoxicating aroma.

More often you can find flowers in gardens of dark blue, blue, purple or lilac colors, less often - white. The flowers have an unusual barrel-shaped, cylindrical, sometimes tubular shape, with fused, curved petals at the ends. The upper flowers of the inflorescence are sterile, they only attract insects that pollinate the plant. Muscaria fruit is a round or heart-shaped box, divided into three nests, in which there are small black seeds. The flowering time of the plant in the southern regions is early spring, in the central and northern regions it blooms later. Muscaria blooms for several weeks.

MUSCARI IN OPEN GROUND

Landing site and soil

Most cultivated plants of the genus are unpretentious, so the cultivation of muscari does not cause problems. Flowers prefer to grow in well-lit areas with direct sunlight, but can also live in the shade. Mouse hyacinth does not require much care and shelter for the winter, except that some varieties and species will need mulching (muscari broadleaf and muscari Oshe). In addition, Muscari flowers are undemanding to soils, they grow almost everywhere. But if the substrates are light or medium, rich in organic components and with a slightly acidic pH (5.8-6.5), they grow especially expressive and attractive. Therefore, before planting muscari in the soil, it is advisable to add compost or humus at the rate of half a bucket per square meter. m.

Planting Muscari

Plant mouse hyacinth in groups of 10 to 30 pieces. Bulbs (except for store ones) must first be treated with a fungicide, for example, Fitosporin. The distance between them during planting is on average 4-7 cm. Depth - up to 8 cm, it, like the distance, depends on the size of the bulb, for a smaller size - less, for large bulbs - more. In any case, there should be a soil layer of at least 1 cm above the bulb. Sometimes planting one hundred or two hundred plants per square meter is recommended as a scheme. m.
If planting muscari is supposed to be on a lawn, the sod is carefully removed to a depth of 8 cm on the selected area. Then the soil is loosened, seasoned with compost, removing exactly the same amount of soil to maintain a smooth lawn surface, and the bulbs are planted. The cut piece of lawn immediately after planting the muscari is returned to its place and watered well. Muscari flower bulbs ↓

Muscari care

During growth and flowering, mouse hyacinth requires a moist (but not wet) substrate. In no case should water stagnate in the soil - this leads to rotting of the bulbs. For this reason, even areas slightly flooded in spring or during rains are not suitable for planting muscari. Plants especially need moisture during the flowering period. Watering is completely stopped after two weeks. After the leaves die, the best soil for the bulbs will be semi-dry soil.
In order for the muscari to bloom and grow well, compost is added to the soil in spring. Container plants are additionally fed with liquid complex fertilizers once every 2 weeks during the growing season.
Caring for muscari also includes loosening the soil and removing weeds that can interfere with the development of the bulb.
If Muscari flowers are grown on a lawn, the lawn is not mowed in this place during the growing season.

Otherwise, the Muscari bulbs will be small, and eventually disappear altogether. lawn mowing resume after complete wilting and drying of the leaves.
Muscari care is also facilitated by the fact that the plant is almost not affected by diseases and pests. Only rodents pose a threat to the bulbs, from which they are saved by repellers, mousetraps or special preparations.
The planting site of Muscari must be changed every four years. This can be done during the flowering of muscari, when the location of the bulbs is noticeable. To do this, dig out the overgrown curtains with a shovel and transplant them together with a clod of earth to a new place without damaging the roots.

Be sure to water well afterwards. In places where the location of resting bulbs after flowering is well determined, mouse hyacinth is transplanted in the fall.
With careful care, faded muscari buds are removed. Indeed, on the one hand, seed ripening takes away some of the nutrients from growing bulbs, and on the other hand, self-seeding contributes to the growth of Muscari plantings, which may be undesirable in a particular case. In some varieties, the seed pods are so decorative that they should not be removed, for example, the terry variety Blue Spike.

Bloom

Flowering lasts a little longer than 20 days. At this time, you should only regularly loosen the surface of the soil (after watering), while you need to be very careful not to injure the bulb. It is also necessary to produce timely weeding and, if necessary, cut off fading flowers. If you notice that over time, the flowers of the plant began to lose their former decorative effect, then this means that the muscari must be planted.

Transfer

Muscari can be propagated vegetatively with the help of babies separated from the mother bulb. In this way, the plant is propagated in the fall at the very time when the site is also digging (from the middle to the last days of October). Transplantation should be done only for those bushes that have grown in the same place for 5 to 6 years. However, you can understand that Muscari needs seating by its appearance. The bulbs must be dug up, and then separated from the mother's children (there are up to 30 of them). Then the bulbs will need to be planted in the manner described above.

Muscari after flowering

At the end of flowering, it is necessary to carefully cut off all flower stalks and fertilize with liquid phosphorus-potassium fertilizer in order to prepare the bulbs for wintering. Muscari need to be watered less and less. When the leaves on the bushes are completely dry, you need to stop watering them completely. In the autumn, it is necessary to dig up the site, and plant five-year-old bushes. From the bushes that are not transplanted this year, you need to remove the old leaf plates. Plants that have been transplanted or planted should be sprinkled with a layer of mulch (peat).

GROWING MUSCARI IN CONTAINERS

In recent years, growing Muscari flowers in decorative containers has become increasingly popular. How to plant muscari in this case?
A plastic pot with a drainage hole and bulbs planted in it in the fall is added dropwise in the garden, and in the spring they are placed in a beautiful planter, or the bulbs are transplanted along with the ground without disturbing the roots. Supplement the flower arrangement with planting other spring-flowering plants, for example, plant pansies . When the flowers lose their decorative effect, they are again transferred to the ground together with the pot for the further formation of bulbs, and left in this state until next spring. Growing Muscari in a container requires more care. Indeed, in this case, the plants are more often watered and fed.

GROWING MUSCARI IN CLOSED GROUND (distillation)

Only healthy bulbs of the largest diameter are suitable for distillation, depending on the type and variety, their size can be from 6 to 10 cm in diameter. You can buy them or use your own planting material. Muscari bulbs are dug up after the entire ground part has died off, washed, treated with a fungicide (Fitosporin, a weak solution of potassium permanganate, etc.), dried at room temperature and stored until September in a ventilated and dry place at a temperature of +20 ° C. Purchased bulbs are not processed, they are ready for planting. Then the storage temperature is lowered to +17 °C. The main condition for growing muscari in winter in pots and containers is the correct temperature regime. Without exposure at a temperature of + 2-5 ° C, muscari will not bloom.

Depending on the desired flowering period, the time for planting the bulbs is calculated: 3-4 months of exposure in cool conditions, plus two to three weeks for distillation. Having decided on the period, the bulbs are placed in a cold place with a temperature of +9 ° C for about 35 days, they are stored in dry sawdust, cotton wool or wrapped in paper. After the temperature is lowered to +5 ° C (you can use a refrigerator). Two weeks before the end of the cold period, muscari is planted tightly in pots in moist soil, deepening the bulbs by 2 cm, the upper part should remain in the air.
The substrate for forcing muscari is similar to that used for open ground: nutritious and aerated. You can use a mixture of peat, forest soil and sand (or perlite). At the bottom of the tank, you must definitely put something for drainage (expanded clay, shards, pebbles).
After the allotted time, the pots are transferred to a warm and bright place with a temperature of about +10 ° C, after a day or three the temperature is raised to +15 ° C. When the soil dries up, it is moderately watered, without falling on the top of the bulb. Flowering should occur in two weeks, in a cool room it will last longer, but still not exceed 10 days.

Popular varieties of muscari

In ornamental gardening, the following types are most widely used.

Muscari Armenian(M. armeniacum) native to Southwestern Transcaucasia and Northwestern Turkey grows on dry plains. On Russian household plots, this species is more common than others. Flowers cornflower blue. The plant is very unpretentious, winter-hardy. By the end of flowering, the stems often fall down, reducing the decorativeness of plantings. There are garden forms and varieties. Often used for group plantings.

Muscari Osh(M. aucheri) occurs naturally in Northwestern Iran. Flowers are blue, distinctly bell-shaped. The species does not respond well to excessive moisture.

Muscari grapevine(M. botryoides) grows in meadows and mountain slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones of Central and Southern Europe. One of the most common in culture. Outwardly similar to Armenian Muscari, but has narrower and shorter inflorescences. The flowers are blue with a purple tint. White-flowered and pink-flowered forms are known. In culture since the end of the XVI century.

Muscari changeable(M. commutatum) grows on mountain slopes in the Mediterranean. The flowers are dark, blue-violet. Winter-hardy.

Muscari broadleaf(M. latifolium) forms thickets along forest edges in Asia Minor. It has fairly wide leaves, giving the plant an unusual look. Flowers are dark purple. It is thermophilic, in the conditions of central Russia it needs light shelter for the winter. In warmer regions it is used for group plantings.

Muscari white(M. leucostomum) is found in the Black Sea region, Central Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Iran. Prefers loose fertile soils. The flowers are dark blue, with a purple hue and a white throat.

Muscari unassuming(M. neglectum) in nature grows along the edges, in thickets of shrubs and on rocky screes in the Mediterranean countries. The leaves are large, belt-like, sometimes appear in autumn. The flowers are deep dark blue, with a white border. In the upper part of the inflorescence are sterile light blue flowers. A very unpretentious and winter-hardy species, it propagates well by self-sowing.

Muscari multiflora(M. polyanthum) is found in the meadows of the subalpine and alpine belts of Southwestern Transcaucasia and Northeastern Turkey. The flowers are bell-shaped, bright blue, with pale teeth.

Reproduction and sowing

Muscari is propagated mainly vegetatively, by daughter bulbs. They are usually formed in large numbers. When transplanting, the daughter bulbs are separated, disassembled and planted to a depth of 6–8 cm at a distance of 10 cm from each other. If it is necessary to quickly obtain sufficiently dense plantings, the bulbs are planted at a distance of 5 cm.

Repotting is recommended every 5-7 years. Seed propagation is also possible, it is usually used for botanical species. Seeds are sown immediately after collection, in early - mid-summer, because during storage they quickly lose their germination capacity. Many types of muscari give abundant self-seeding. Young plants obtained from seeds bloom in the third year.

Like most early spring small-bulb plants, muscari are planted in rock gardens, in the foreground of mixborders, on lawns, in the form of borders, in boxes and planters.

Muscari Armenian, broad-leaved and grape-shaped are best suited for distillation.

bulb storage

The largest and healthiest bulbs dug in the beginning - the middle of summer are stored in a well-ventilated area. Until the beginning of October, they are kept at a temperature of 20–25°C, then it is reduced to 17°C. In mid-October - early November, they are planted in pots to a depth of 1-2 cm.

Before planting, the bulbs are soaked for 1 hour in a solution of potassium permanganate of medium strength. The soil in the pots must be moist. Further development of plants depends on temperature. At 9°C the rooting of the bulbs occurs within 1.5 months. Flowering occurs approximately 20 days after the temperature rises to 12–15°C.

Muscari pests and diseases

Muscari are prone to the following diseases:

1. 1. Mosaic on the leaves is a viral disease transmitted by aphids.
      The first sign of the mosaic is the dwarfing of the plant, its leaves look narrowed and deformed. The disease is carried by aphids, which infect a healthy bulb. If the infection of the bulb has already occurred, it must be dug up and burned so as not to infect other healthy specimens with the virus. A viral disease is not subject to treatment, it can only be prevented, that is, to deal with mosaic carriers - aphids. To kill aphids, use a solution consisting of 2 teaspoons of liquid soap and 2 glasses of water. Spray the plant with this solution.
   2. Spider mite. Muscari is sometimes affected by spider mites. To combat it, drugs such as Actofit, Fitoverm are used. When processing a plant with these preparations, it is necessary to strictly follow the instructions.
   3. Slug damage. If you find that the leaves of the plant are eaten away in some places and there are remains of mucus on them, then the plant has been attacked by mucus. The reason for the appearance of slugs is excessive moisture.

Muscari genus (Muscari) belongs to the hyacinth family (Hyacinthaceae) and includes more than 60 species distributed in southern Europe, northern Africa, small, front and middle (western) Asia.

The flower received its scientific name for its pleasant aroma, reminiscent of the smell of musk. Muscari is popularly called mouse hyacinth, apparently because of the similar structure of the inflorescence, flowering time and the small size of the plant (a mouse in a bouquet). The British call Muscari grape hyacinth (Grape hyacinth) because of the similarity of the inflorescence with a dense bunch of grapes. There is another popular name, not too euphonious - viper onion. Perhaps it is given for the similarity of the leaves with onions and, again, small size.

Muscari are spring-flowering bulbous ephemeroids. These are medium-sized plants (10–30 cm tall) with long, most often narrow, bright green leaves. Bulbs ovoid, up to 2 cm in diameter. Small bell-shaped flowers are collected in a racemose inflorescence crowning a straight strong stem. The corolla is most often colored in blue and blue tones, but white-flowered forms are also found. Some species have purple or yellow flowers.

Popular varieties of muscari

In ornamental gardening, the following types are most widely used.

Muscari Armenian(M. armeniacum) native to Southwestern Transcaucasia and Northwestern Turkey grows on dry plains. On Russian household plots, this species is more common than others. Flowers cornflower blue. The plant is very unpretentious, winter-hardy. By the end of flowering, the stems often fall down, reducing the decorativeness of plantings. There are garden forms and varieties. Often used for group plantings.

Muscari Osh(M. aucheri) occurs naturally in Northwestern Iran. Flowers are blue, distinctly bell-shaped. The species does not respond well to excessive moisture.

(M. botryoides) grows in meadows and mountain slopes in the subalpine and alpine zones of Central and Southern Europe. One of the most common in culture. Outwardly similar to Armenian Muscari, but has narrower and shorter inflorescences. The flowers are blue with a purple tint. White-flowered and pink-flowered forms are known. In culture since the end of the XVI century.

Muscari changeable(M. commutatum) grows on mountain slopes in the Mediterranean. The flowers are dark, blue-violet. Winter-hardy.

(M. latifolium) forms thickets along forest edges in Asia Minor. It has fairly wide leaves, giving the plant an unusual look. Flowers are dark purple. It is thermophilic, in the conditions of central Russia it needs light shelter for the winter. In warmer regions it is used for group plantings.

Muscari white(M. leucostomum) is found in the Black Sea region, Central Transcaucasia, Central Asia and Iran. Prefers loose fertile soils. The flowers are dark blue, with a purple hue and a white throat.

Muscari unassuming(M. neglectum) in nature grows along the edges, in thickets of shrubs and on rocky screes in the Mediterranean countries. The leaves are large, belt-like, sometimes appear in autumn. The flowers are deep dark blue, with a white border. In the upper part of the inflorescence are sterile light blue flowers. A very unpretentious and winter-hardy species, it propagates well by self-sowing.

Muscari multiflora(M. polyanthum) is found in the meadows of the subalpine and alpine belts of Southwestern Transcaucasia and Northeastern Turkey. The flowers are bell-shaped, bright blue, with pale teeth.

Cultivation and care

Muscari are hardy plants. They are able to grow and delight in flowering both in the sun and in partial shade. They are undemanding to soils, but on cultivated and fertile ones they form larger bulbous nests and more lush inflorescences. They respond well to the introduction of nutrient humus or compost into the soil. It is recommended to do this before planting and every year in the fall. Muscari, like most bulbs, does not respond well to stagnant moisture.

During the growing season and flowering, they require moist soil, but additional watering is recommended only in dry springs after a winter with little snow. During the dormant period, on the contrary, excessive moisture is harmful. Fertilizer is applied in the fall, preferably in the form of compost. Muscari are resistant to diseases and pests.

Reproduction and sowing

Muscari is propagated mainly vegetatively, by daughter bulbs. They are usually formed in large numbers. When transplanting, the daughter bulbs are separated, disassembled and planted to a depth of 6–8 cm at a distance of 10 cm from each other. If it is necessary to quickly obtain sufficiently dense plantings, the bulbs are planted at a distance of 5 cm.

Repotting is recommended every 5-7 years. Seed propagation is also possible, it is usually used for botanical species. Seeds are sown immediately after collection, in early - mid-summer, because during storage they quickly lose their germination capacity. Many types of muscari give abundant self-seeding. Young plants obtained from seeds bloom in the third year.

Like most early spring small-bulb plants, muscari are planted in rock gardens, in the foreground of mixborders, on lawns, in the form of borders, in boxes and planters.

Muscari Armenian, broad-leaved and grape-shaped are best suited for distillation.

bulb storage

The largest and healthiest bulbs dug in the beginning - the middle of summer are stored in a well-ventilated area. Until the beginning of October, they are kept at a temperature of 20–25°C, then it is reduced to 17°C. In mid-October - early November, they are planted in pots to a depth of 1-2 cm.

Before planting, the bulbs are soaked for 1 hour in a solution of potassium permanganate of medium strength. The soil in the pots must be moist. Further development of plants depends on temperature. At 9°C the rooting of the bulbs occurs within 1.5 months. Flowering occurs approximately 20 days after the temperature rises to 12–15°C.

The earliest flower in the garden is Muscari. He is the first to wake up after hibernation to please everyone with an unsurpassed aroma, rich blue hue and the ability to create a composition that will enliven the whole house! Many flower growers are engaged in its cultivation, choosing certain varieties from the photo, but not everyone knows the intricacies of care. Here - information about the rules for planting in open ground, the necessary dressings, the neighborhood with other flowers in your garden and more!

Muscari description: varieties from which the varieties originate

Cute blue bells with a white skirt, the unusualness of which beckons, giving rise to a desire to plant a couple more varieties ... Do you have the same picture? So in front of you is Armenian Muscari (lat. Muscari), or mouse / grape hyacinth, or viper onion - a flower that belongs to the asparagus family. Initially, he was assigned to the Lileyny family, but later, upon closer examination, the breeders realized that they were mistaken. The halo of the flower habitat is Southern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caucasus, Asia Minor, Crimea. In total, there are more than 60 types of muscari, the most popular of them are:

• muscari Tubergena (Osh), characterized by short stature and crescent-shaped leaves. A striking feature is the early flowering period;

• Muscari is pale, a frequenter of the territory of the Crimean peninsula. Especially loved by flower growers for their resistance to bad weather and the rich shade of bluebells;
• muscari crested, which is distinguished from other flowers on arcuate pedicels. They decorate lawns and driveways, using as a ground cover;

• muscari grape-shaped, characterized by small flowers. Bright "chip" - in 2 varieties of white and pink shades;
• Muscari Armenian, the most common among flower growers and breeders. Everyone will like the power of the bush, resistance to diseases, fairly large flowers and a large number of varieties, each of which is special.

Attention! There are more than 170 varieties of Armenian Muscari. There are plants with white, purple, purple, blue and pink flowers to choose from. A striking advantage is the huge number of flower stalks on the bush.

Features of planting a plant, or what needs to be considered

Mouse hyacinth is a small-bulbous flower, therefore, it does not need a specific land for development, it grows almost everywhere. This is due to the supply of nutrients in the bulb, which help the bush to form and flower stalks to take shape.

For planting bulbs, you can choose the time in September-October, before winter, or you can plant in early spring, as soon as the snow melts and the earth warms up to + 3-5 ° C. To plant Muscari you need:

1. Prepare the site. The optimal solution is to plant a flower in groups for maximum expressiveness. To do this, it is necessary to dig up (or loosen well) the soil by at least 8-10 cm. On soils with a pH of 5.8-6.5, the flower will delight with a more saturated shade, a powerful bush than on acidic or alkaline soils.
2. Disinfect purchased bulbs, pre-select diseased or damaged ones. A good remedy is a strong solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin.
3. Plant the bulbs in a group (10-30 pcs), but not less than 4-7 cm apart. The depth of planting the bulb will depend on its size, approximately 5-8 cm.
4. Water. An important condition for proper flower care is soil moisture, this must be monitored.
5. Mulch the basal neck if Muscari Oshe or broadleaf is chosen.

Aftercare does not require much effort. The flower will delight with its musky aroma, the richness of the hue of the bells, and will set everyone who sees it in a positive mood!

Viper onion care: not only the basic rules

Caring for muscari is simple, every novice grower can be sure of this. But despite its simplicity, it has its own characteristics. Treating them carefully, you will get abundant flowering for several months!

Fertilizer and top dressing, or what is needed for the growth and beauty of muscari

Caring for a flower in the open field comes down to simple rules. The most important of these is watering. The flower loves slightly moist (not wet!) Soil. If you notice that the leaves tend to the ground and dry out, then there is not enough watering. Therefore, it is worth carefully monitoring the condition of the soil.

In addition, mouse hyacinth must:

• feed throughout the season. To do this, you can choose organic fertilizers with different composition of micro-, macro-elements, feed the flower at the time of budding and during flowering. Usually, from 3 to 5 top dressings are made per season, which help to increase the decorative effect of the flower;
• pick off dry flower stalks that have faded. They can be cut with a knife or secateurs, contributing to the formation of new ones;
• repot muscari every 4th year. This will help to get new planting material, as well as rejuvenate the bush.

Simple rules of care will help you enjoy the primrose for a long time, rejoicing at its good location in the garden. It remains only to come up with a suitable company for Muscari!

Briefly about diseases and pests

Grape hyacinth is rarely damaged by diseases, but often by pests. Aphids can, if not destroy, then severely damage plants by introducing the onion yellow dwarf virus, mosaic. It is impossible to fight it, since no effective drugs have been found, so special attention should be paid to the appearance of aphids. Prevention - soap solution, as well as drugs of the avermectin group in conjunction with urea. And your muscari is always healthy!

Plant propagation: generative and vegetative methods

Like many bulbs, muscari is propagated by seeds and division of the uterine bulb. The first option is the most time-consuming, because it requires not only the purchase of seeds (you can collect from your own bushes), but also their cultivation at a certain temperature and humidity. The negative point of growing mouse hyacinth with the help of seeds is the flowering time, which will come only for 3-4 years.

Compared to this method, vegetative reproduction of muscari will delight with rapid flowering: young bulbs, separated from the mother in September, will give the first flowers in spring. What is needed in order to get a new planting material? Following:

• dig a two-year-old bulb in September;
• gently shake off the clods of earth, separate the small baby bulbs from the large ones;
• dry in the sun, can be treated with drugs that stimulate the formation of roots;
• plant the uterine bulbs in a permanent place, the children - in the distribution bed. The distance between the bulbs is 1-3 cm;
• shed flowers and leave to winter until spring. In spring, adult plants will give flowers, and children will give only greenery, by which it will be possible to judge the power of the future bush and the health of the whole plant.

The Muscari breeding method you have chosen will help you get enough planting material to decorate a flower bed, a discount, an alpine hill. And the garden will surprise both the household and the guest with bright blue accents.

Muscari: combination with other plants, or complete harmony visually

Undersized muscari is the flower of the first line after ground covers, as well as alyssum, purslane or other creeping blooms. Its planting among tall salvia, weaving roses or gladioli, for example, is impractical: it simply will not be visible.

The best solution is to plant viper onions in groups or in the foreground in front of other plants. At the same time, do not forget that the flower grows significantly in volume over the years, it is worth leaving enough space.

An interesting combination of mouse hyacinth with yellow daffodils or red tulips, which can be found in the garden in the first spring. And then - only your imagination! Some varieties of petunias, undersized salvia, ranunculus and snapdragons will look interesting with it. Among the perennials, he will also find company!

The main thing is a sunny place and sufficient territory. And you know about care, watering and other subtleties. Choose a variety according to the photo in the catalog and decorate your flower bed with muscari!

Unpretentious muscari: video