Muscari best varieties

I really love spring and the flowering of spring bulbs. In one of the first places I have on this list, a variety of muscarics. Many people think that muscari are only cobalt blue. But this is far from the case. They can be white, blue, pink, purple and even pink. They can be fragrant and practically odorless, they make beautiful and cute bouquets. With proper care in early spring, a good distillation is obtained from them.

They can be planted almost everywhere - on alpine and rocky hills, on flower beds and retaining walls, in pots and patio containers. There are a million options, and maybe more. Let's talk about the different varieties and their design options. Indeed, in essence, they are not only insanely beautiful, but also very unpretentious. They are not touched by mice and other rodents, which is also important, they are quite frost and cold hardy. What is not an ideal material for all kinds of gardeners and florists?

So, let's begin. And we will start with the most widespread and well-deserved Armeniacum variety.

It also looks good when paired with short white tulips like Calgary and Fritillaria Imperialis.

Next, I really like the famous Azureum cultivar.

It is beautiful on its own, and in a flowerpot, and in combination with many other small-bulbous plants.

No less interesting is the two-color variety Latifolium

This variety looks good when paired with yellow, red or pink tulips. This variety is also often called Bicolor.

The next very beautiful variety is called Ocean Magic. See how beautiful it looks when paired with a yellow Terry Tulip Yellow Spider

We completely forgot about the white muscari. Agree that they also look very beautiful, including together with hyacinths

White Magic grade:

Muscari White Magic, Hyacinth Blue Jacket, Terry Tulip Early Yellow Baby:

Next we will have a terry variety Blue Spike. Looks very nice, both in groups, in combination with other cultures, and in itself.

We haven't had yellow muscari yet. Here is a very beautiful and very aromatic variety. It was called Golden Fragrance for a reason.

Moreover, such fragrant muscari come in very different lengths, as can be seen from the following picture, which depicts 3 completely different varieties

And also this kind and forms of muscari are white-purple and half as long. They are also very fragrant! and have characteristic brown spots

And so far we have not had pink varieties. At the moment, I know of 2 pink varieties.

Pink Sunrise cultivar:

And the Gul Delight variety:

Now there are a few more completely dark varieties. For example, Key Biscayne:

Or here's another variety without a name, so far it only has number No 118A_DSC_5178

Or, on the contrary, very beautiful light or two-tone colors:

Mount Hood Variety:

Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the variety ... This is still a novelty too:

Or here is also a very beautiful and original color. Also new:

Well, here is what can be made from a variety of varieties of muscarica)))))))

As you can see, the variety is very large, and there is also plenty to choose from)))))

Have a nice day!

In dry shade, under deciduous trees and shrubs, you can plant meadows of a spring bulbous plant muscari (mouse hyacinth). This is a light-loving perennial, but in the spring, when the leaves on the trees have not yet blossomed, it has enough illumination. Various types and varieties of muscari bloom from mid-April to June, making up an excellent company with other small-bulbous plants (crocuses and pushinias) and spring-flowering perennials (anemones, lilies of the valley, lumbago).

In addition to being placed under trees, muscari are also planted in sunny places - in dense groups between perennials in mixborders. On flower beds or on a border in flower beds with annuals, which are planted or sown directly on the muscari plantings, since its leaves die off in June. Also beautiful is mouse hyacinth among stones on an alpine slide or in flowerpots near the entrance to the house (muscari smells good). It can also be planted on a regular lawn (which is cut after the muscari leaves turn yellow) or its Moorish variety.

Unpretentiousness, winter hardiness, the ability to reproduce independently and resistance to pests and diseases allow me to recommend muscari as one of the best plants for a garden without hassle.

Types and varieties of muscari:

Muscari Armenian

Muscari Armenian (Muscari armeniacum) - plant height in bloom up to 20 cm. Linear leaves about 15 cm long and 0.5 cm wide, grow back in autumn. Flowers are blue bell-shaped with white denticles along the edge with a diameter of about 0.5 cm, collected in an inflorescence in a short raceme up to 4 cm long. Blooms in May for 20-25 days.

Many varieties have been developed.

"Big Smile

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"Big Smile" - light blue inflorescence about 12 cm long (excluding the stem).

"Blue Spike

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"Blue Spike" - a variety up to 25 cm tall, dense, highly branched inflorescence with a large number of sterile blue flowers, blooms at the end of May for about 20 days.

"Cupido

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"Cupido" - the height of the variety is up to 12 cm, the flowers are sky-blue.

"Dark Eaz

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"Dark Eaz" ("Dark Eyes") - a plant up to 20 cm tall, deep blue flowers with a snow-white border around the edge, blooms in late April.

"Fantasy Creation

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"Fantasy Creation" - the height of the variety is up to 20 cm, numerous double flowers in a branched inflorescence, first greenish then light blue, blooms from late May to early June.

Mount Hood

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"Mount Hood" - a plant about 15 cm tall, inflorescences are light blue with a white top, blooms in May.

Pink Sunrise

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"Pink Sunrise" - a variety about 15 cm tall, porcelain-pink flowers, blooms in May.

Muscari uviform

Muscari uviform (M. botryoides) - plant about 12 cm tall. Leaves up to 12 cm long, 0.5 cm wide. The flowers are blue with a purple tint and white denticles along the edge, a narrow raceme about 5 cm long is collected in an inflorescence. Blooms from early May for about 20 days.

There are two varieties with white and pink flowers.

White (var. Album) - blooms from mid-May.

Pink (var. Carneum) - white-pink flowers.

Myscari racemose

Myscari racemose (M.racemosum) - plant height is about 12 cm. Leaves are linear, up to 15 cm long and 0.4 cm wide, grow back in spring. Flowers are dark blue in racemose inflorescence up to 3 cm long. Blooms in May for about a month.

Location:

All types and varieties of muscari grow well both in well-lit areas and in partial shade.

The soil should be fertile, loose, not waterlogged. Dry conditions are desirable during rest.

Care:

Muscari can grow without leaving at all. But they love autumn or spring feeding with organic fertilizers (compost or humus), while they form stronger and higher inflorescences.

Hardy without shelter.

Muscari (Muscari) is also called mouse hyacinth or viper onion.This bulbous perennial belongs to the Asparagaceae family, but earlier this genus was a member of the lily or hyacinth family. This genus unites about 60 species. In natural conditions, such plants can be found on the edges of forests, among shrubs, as well as on the mountain slopes of the Caucasus, Crimea, South and Central Europe, Asia Minor and the Mediterranean. These plants are among the earliest spring flowers and are very often cut. Muscari flowers have a very strong, but quite pleasant scent. Small, but very effective muscari flowers decorate lawns, rock gardens and rabatki. Such flowers are also used as border plants.

Muscari features

Ovate muscari bulbs have light colored outer scales. The bulbs are 20 mm in diameter and 15–35 mm long. The length of the basal linear leaf plates reaches 17 centimeters, they grow up to 6 pieces on one copy. The leaves grow in the spring, but they can reappear in the fall. In height, such plants can reach about 0.3 meters. On the leafless peduncle there are flowers, the perianth of which is barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular in shape, consisting of 6 fused petals, bent along the edge. The color can vary from dark blue to white. The diameter and length of the flowers are 5 mm. Such flowers are part of dense apical or racemose inflorescences, which can reach about 8 centimeters in length. The fruit is a three-celled winged capsule, heart-shaped or spherical, containing small wrinkled black seeds. The seeds remain viable for 12 months after harvest. The advantages of the muscari genus are that almost all species have a high decorative effect, and such plants are also distinguished by their unpretentiousness.

Types and varieties of muscari with photos

Armenian Muscari (Muscari armeniacum)

The winter-hardy Armenian muscari (Colchis) is very popular among gardeners. Its flowering begins at the end of spring and lasts about 20 days. This particular species is called "mouse hyacinth". The flowers located at the top of the inflorescences are sterile, and they are colored light blue. The dark blue flowers at the bottom of the peduncle have a white border. The flowers have a pleasant scent.

The most popular varieties:

1. Muscari Terry Blue Spike... It has a very high decorative effect due to the fact that up to 170 flowers are included in the cluster-shaped inflorescence. Differs in unpretentiousness, is often used for cutting.
2. Christmas Pearl... It has very decorative purple flowers.
3. Fantasy Creation... A very effective variety due to the combination of greenish blue and blue colors.

Muscari uviform (Muscari botryoides)

Under natural conditions, this species can be found in the alpine belt of Central and Southern Europe. It is considered the most popular among gardeners since 1576. The flowers of this species are somewhat smaller in comparison with the Armenian muscari. Almost all varieties are colored in different shades of blue, but there are 2 varieties:

1. V album... The cluster-shaped inflorescences consist of white flowers similar to pearls.
2. V carneum... The flowers are pink in color.

Muscari broadleaf

The leaf plates of this species are very wide and similar to tulip foliage. Inflorescences are dense, cylindrical in shape and dark blue in color. It stands out among other species in that several peduncles can grow from one bulb at once.

Pale Muscari (Muscari pallens)

In natural conditions, it can be found on the mountain slopes. Peduncles are low, and small bell-shaped flowers of light blue color appear on them. The most popular variety is White Rose Beauty: the color of its flowers is light pink.

Muscari crested (Muscari comosum)

A very spectacular look.In the wild, it prefers to grow among shrubs, on the edges of forests, as well as in dry meadows. On the peduncle is a crest, consisting of purple flowers with arcuate pedicels. This type looks very impressive on lawns or lawns against the background of ground cover grass. The most popular variety is Plumozum: the shoots are highly branched, and they have a large number of sterile purple-lilac flowers.

Muscari Oche, or Tubergena

In nature, it can be found in Northwestern Iran. Flowering occurs in mid-spring. Blue flowers have teeth of a lighter color. Good drainage is essential. The most popular among gardeners is the Tubergen variety, which has flowers of a paler color, and the shape of its leaf plates is sickle-shaped.

Muscari pretty (Muscari pulchellum)

This species has a Hebrew name that sounds like kadan nae (beautiful). You can meet such flowers in the parks of Ashkelon. They begin to bloom in winter. Peduncles are low, and on them there are dense short ovoid inflorescences with a deep blue color. The fold teeth are white.

In addition to these species, the following are also very popular among gardeners: long-flowered muscari, changeable, ragweed, white-grass, large-fruited, strange, multi-flowered, dense-flowered, racemose, etc.

Growing muscari in the garden

These flowers are quite popular in horticulture. They look very good both in decorative vases and in rock gardens, while undersized varieties are used as curbs. Muscari also look very impressive in multi-tiered flower beds, in composition with other plants blooming in spring. So, against the background of a dense planting of blue-lilac muscari, islets of early-flowering daffodils and tulips, which are slightly higher, look incredibly beautiful. Also, orange hazel grouses look great next to blue muscari.

Like other early-blooming spring flowers, muscari begin to bloom when there are no leaves at all on the bushes and trees. In this regard, there is always enough sunlight for such plants. These flowers can do without transplanting for several years in a row, so experienced gardeners are advised to plant them in the immediate vicinity of a perennial plant that does not need relatively frequent transplants. Loose, nutrient-rich and water-permeable soil is very suitable for planting. Experts advise choosing an elevated area for muscari, while it must be protected from strong gusts of wind.

Planting muscari in open ground

What time to plant

It is recommended to disembark in autumn until the last days of October. It is best to plant plants in groups, while it should be borne in mind that you can plant only those muscari bushes that have been grown in the same place for 5 years or longer. When buying planting material in a specialized store, you should pay special attention to the condition of the shoots. They should not show signs of disease. In April, sometimes in nurseries, you can see muscari seedlings, which are already in full bloom, while the sellers assure that these plants can be immediately transplanted to a permanent place. You can try to follow their advice.

How to plant

Before proceeding with the landing, it is necessary to inspect the bulbs, and those of them that are injured or darkened should be removed. For preventive purposes, the planting material must be disinfected, for this it is placed for 30 minutes. into a solution of karbofos (2%). Then it is taken out and immersed for half an hour in a solution of potassium manganese (1%). Also, 24 hours before planting the bulbs, it is necessary to prepare the planting holes, they should be watered abundantly so that the entire layer of soil is soaked.Before planting, the bottom of the holes is covered with a layer of river sand, which will serve as good drainage. Large bulbs are buried 7 centimeters into the soil, while leaving a distance of 5 to 10 centimeters between the specimens. Small bulbs need to be buried 3 centimeters into the ground, while leaving 2 to 3 centimeters of empty space between the specimens.

Care features

Caring for muscari is quite simple, so even a novice gardener can grow this plant. Watering such a flower is necessary only at the very beginning of active growth, however, at this time, most often, the soil contains a large amount of moisture after the snow cover melts or after heavy spring rains. When the plant is dormant, it does not need watering. Systematic watering is needed only if the winter period turned out to be little snow or there was very little rain in the spring.

In the event that the soil on the site contains a small amount of nutrients, then it becomes necessary to apply organic fertilizer to the soil. So, in the autumn, during digging, compost or humus can be added to the soil, while 5 kg of fertilizer is taken per 1 m2. In the event that such fertilization is systematically introduced into the soil in the autumn, then muscari can be grown in the same area for 10 years. However, in the end, you still have to transplant such plants.

Bloom

Flowering lasts a little longer than 20 days. At this time, you should only regularly loosen the soil surface (after watering), while you need to be very careful so as not to injure the bulb. It is also necessary to carry out 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 decorativeness, then this means that the muscari must be planted.

Transfer

Muscari can be propagated vegetatively with babies separated from the mother's bulb. In this way, the plant is propagated in the fall at the same time when the site is being digged (from the middle to the last days of October). Transplanting should be done only on 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 babies (there are up to 30 of them). Then the bulbs will need to be planted in the way described above.

Breeding muscari

The vegetative reproduction method is described above. In addition, muscari reproduces very well by self-seeding. In order to control the number of these flowers, after they have faded, it is recommended to remove all peduncles, leaving a few pieces if necessary. When the seeds are ripe, they will need to be harvested. It should be remembered that they remain viable for 12 months. Sowing should be done in open ground in autumn, while the seeds should be buried by 10–20 mm. Seedlings will appear in the spring, and they will look like thin strings. The flowering of muscari grown from seed is observed only after 2 or 3 years.

Diseases and pests

Very often, this plant is sick with mosaic, and it occurs due to the yellow dwarf onion virus. In an infected specimen, a green mosaic can be seen on the surface of the leaf plates, and they themselves become narrowed, the flower arrow is shortened, while the growth of the plant itself is inhibited. In some cases, muscari is infected with the usual cucumber mosaic, in which case the leaves are deformed, and light green strokes and spots appear on their surface. The carriers of these viruses are aphids, and if it is in the onion, it will remain there. In this regard, all diseased plants must be dug up and destroyed in order to stop the spread of the virus. For prevention purposes, it is recommended that aphids be destroyed in a timely manner on the site.To do this, you can use a soapy solution. To prepare it, 2 large lodges of soap (Fairy, Gala) must be mixed with 0.5 liters of water. When spider mites appear, plants should be treated with means of the avermectin group (Aktofit, Vertimek, Fitoverm), spraying should be carried out at a temperature of 18 degrees, while strictly adhering to the instructions.

Muscari after flowering

At the end of flowering, it is necessary to carefully cut off all flower stalks and feed with liquid phosphorus-potassium fertilizer to prepare the bulbs for wintering. Watering the muscari should be less and less. When the leaves on the bushes are completely dry, you need to stop watering them altogether. In the autumn, it is necessary to dig up the site, and plant the bushes of five years old. 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).

Storing muscari bulbs

Digging the bulbs for the winter is not at all necessary, but it is possible. But in order to save planting material until spring, you need to know a few rules:

1. After the leaves of the muscari begin to dry out, you need to start digging the bulbs.
2. The bulbs are dried for several days, then they are placed in moistened clean sand or peat.
3. Once every 7 days, it is necessary to inspect the planting material, while rotten, injured or soft bulbs should be discarded.
4. It is recommended to store the bulbs at an air humidity of 70 percent and at a temperature of -17 degrees.

However, it should be remembered that it is recommended to plant such a plant in the autumn, so there is no particular need to save the bulbs until spring.

Muscari blue muscari azureum photo

Everyone loves spring in their own way ... for its tenderness, warm air, gentle sunbeams, first and very modest flowers. Muscari are among the first to give people their beauty and charm. How much joy they give us, emerging from the cold earth in early spring, replacing the primroses. White, sky blue, dark blue, pink bell-shaped flowers, forming a small pyramid, like porcelain, tightly pressed against each other. This is how funny and touching muscari look like.

Muscari - because it has an alluring, strong scent of musk. And the mouse hyacinth is for its miniature size, as if for mouse-noses, and a close relationship with a real hyacinth. Viper onion - for a bulb that looks like a real onion and its poisonousness. Near the clumps of these flowers, you can often meet a whole family of vipers, they bask in the heated glades, where muscari often grow.

Birds avoid pecking the viper onion - it is poisonous to them. Its English name means grape hyacinth - for the inflorescences that in appearance resemble a bunch of grapes. The French call muscari earthen lilacs. The variety of affectionate names hints that the muscari viper bow has long been loved by many peoples of different countries.

Muscari White Muscaria White Beauty photo of flowering

Muscari came to Europe by chance as early as the 17th century. In ancient times, off the coast of the Netherlands, during a storm, a merchant ship, carrying strange goods from warm countries, crashed on the reefs. The ship sank, and the bulbs washed ashore in waves and they sprouted. Thus, the inhabitants of Europe learned about the extraordinary flowers that can be grown from a tiny bulb.

These primroses look unusually beautiful in the awakening garden, repeating the bends of the paths with cheerful streams. Muscari clumps, like bouquets of small berries on long twigs, as if particles of the sky, appear on flower beds here and there. Arrangers use them with pleasure to compose their compositions.

Description of muscari muscari or mouse hyacinth

Muscari Pink Sunrise Muscari Pink Sunrise photo

Muscari (Muscari) is a genus of perennial bulbous plants belonging to the Asparagus family, which includes 44 species. Some are cultivated as ornamental, and there are many varieties of muscari with a variety of flower colors. Their bulbs are small, ovoid, up to 2 cm in diameter.

The plant is an ephemeroid, for more than half a year it is in a dormant state, only awakening for a short time to decorate the world around it. The bulb, covered with light outer scales, accumulates nutrients during growth, which it uses, starting flowering in early spring. In spring, narrow linear leaves come out, collected in a basal rosette and low peduncles. Some species have leaves that appear in the fall and remain overwintered under the snow.

Muscari yellow Golden Fragrance Muscari macrocarpum ‘Golden Fragrance’ photo

Flowers with a barrel-shaped, cylindrical or tubular perianth, consisting of 6 fused petals, are collected in a racemose inflorescence with a delicate stimulating aroma. 6 stamens are attached to the perianth in two rows, the fruit is a three-celled capsule with wrinkled, dark seeds, which are used for seed propagation within a year after harvest. Distributed throughout Europe, North Africa, Western Asia, the Mediterranean. Some species climb high into the mountains.

Growing conditions How to plant and care for muscari

Muscari flowers planting How to care for mouse hyacinth

Muscari multiply very quickly, forming luxurious floral carpets. One mother bulb forms a whole nest per season. One rule for all garden species should be observed - they do not tolerate stagnant melt water, lowlands. Otherwise, muscari grow without problems in any area. The attitude to the sun's rays does not matter much, since the period of their active growing season falls on a time when the other green fellows in the neighborhood are just about to wake up from hibernation and in no way interfere with our upstarts.

• When planting, you should count on the fact that the mouse hyacinth will grow without transplanting for several years in one place, and it is good to fill the soil with organic matter and compost.
• A little sand should be added to the bottom of the planting holes.
• The bulbs are buried to a height equal to three of its diameters.
• Watering is not relevant for viper onions - there is enough moisture in the ground after the snow melts.
• If the plants have not been transplanted for several years, they should be fed with complex fertilizer during the flowering period, after thoroughly moistening the soil.

Why don't muscari bloom?

When to dig out the muscari

If there is a deterioration in flowering or its complete cessation - the plant only releases leaves, this is an impetus to the fact that it is time to transplant and divide the curtain.

It should be borne in mind that a place in muscari at the beginning of summer may be empty, it can be taken by annual representatives of the natural kingdom or combined planting with other perennial plants that bloom much later.

Do you need to dig up the muscari? How mouse hyacinth winters

Winter-hardy varieties do not require special attention in preparation for wintering. If you are not sure that the planted variety is winter-hardy, it is enough to cover the planting site with spruce branches, fallen leaves or any covering material. There is no need to dig up viper onions, unless you intend to forcing flowers at home.

Mouse hyacinth at home

Muscari flowers planting and care at home photo Muscari at home in a pot

Muscari are actively used for forcing. For this, only healthy, largest bulbs are suitable. They are dug out after the leaves disappear from the surface of the earth, cleaned of soil residues, sorted out, dried at room temperature and stored until September. Purchased bulbs do not need to be processed - they are already ready for planting.

• The main condition for growing mouse hyacinth on windowsills is the correct temperature regime.
• First, they are stored in dry sawdust or wrapped in paper or cotton wool.
• Muscari are kept in low temperatures for 3-4 months.
• It is kept for 35 days in cool conditions with a temperature of 9 degrees, then the temperature is reduced to 5 degrees.
• Two weeks before the end of the cold content, dense planting is placed in pots with an ordinary earthen substrate, deepening the bulbs by 2 cm, so that the crown sees the light.
• After the allotted time, the pots are transferred to a warm, light windowsill.
• The soil is watered moderately. Flowering will come in 15 days - the lower the temperature in the room where the muscari are, the longer the flowering will last.
• After forcing, the plants can be dug in the garden.

When to transplant muscari? Reproduction by children

Mouse hyacinth muscari reproduction by children photo

Muscari propagation is very simple. Usually this operation is combined with a transplant. First of all, you should notice the place from where you will transplant the plants with pegs. Since by the time of transplantation, there will be no traces of them on the ground - the plants are in hibernation. When to plant your muscari?Have been doing this since mid-summerso that the bulbs have time to take root before wintering.

• Carefully dig in a lump of earth with a shovel in the spot you see and break it, separating the bulbs. They are carefully sorted out, removing the sick and dry.
• The bulbs are sorted by size, large ones can be left for distillation, the smaller the bulbs, the closer they are placed from each other.
• Very small ones can be put next to several pieces.
• Planting muscari looks more attractive if the plants are arranged in groups. To do this, you can make grooves in the shape of a circle, or lay out the onion in flocks, for example, 3 pieces side by side, 10 cm more 3, etc.

They are planted in prepared soil, to which humus is added. Grooves are made, on the bottom of which sand is poured with a layer of 2 cm and spilled with water. The bulbs are laid out along the groove, covered with compost on top. The more nutritious the soil at the planting site, the faster the muscari will grow and the more colorful the flowering will be.

Planting muscari in spring

Muscari flowers planting and care photos

Sometimes you have to replant muscari at the wrong time - during flowering, in the spring. They sometimes grow actively and interfere with other cultures. Gently shovel in a flock of muscari and transfer it to a more convenient place, which is prepared in advance, adding organic fertilizers. The hole is made according to the size of an earthen lump with muscari, which is carefully transferred directly on a shovel, sprinkling with soil around the circumference. After that, the plants are thoroughly watered. Usually, with this method of transplanting, muscari bloom again the next spring without problems.

How to plant muscari in spring, the video will tell:

For all unplanned transplants, so that the plants suffer less, it is better to replant them in the evening, watering them abundantly. if possible, in the first week it is better to shade the landing.

Growing muscari from seeds

Growing muscari from seeds for seedlings photo

Most muscari species reproduce by self-seeding. With cultural content, this type of reproduction is rarely used - flowering will come only after 4 years.

• For seed propagation, you can use your own seed.
• The seeds are allowed to ripen and in the fall, after collection, they are sown in the garden.
• With the seedling method, stratification is used (the seeds are kept in the refrigerator for about 3-4 months before planting, be sure to moisten and wrap them in a wet cloth, placing them in a bag). A good time to start stratification is October. In February, carefully plant the seeds in containers.
• Seeds are sealed to a depth of 1 cm.
• Care of seedlings requires careful attention - weeds, soil crust, poor soil are unacceptable. All this negatively affects their development.
• Moderate watering to prevent root rot.
• At the end of March, hardening is done, leaving the seedlings outside to get used to normal conditions. In early to mid-April, when the land is ripe, the seedlings are planted in a permanent place.

Diseases and pests

Sometimes they can be affected by diseases and pests. Aphids are familiar to all gardeners. The primary source of aphids are garden ants, which carry it around the site and create entire colonies of these pests. Fighting ants is a guarantee of the absence of aphids. A soap solution is used to combat aphids. It adheres to plants, forming a protective film that prevents the spread of aphids.

The soap solution can be used as a prophylactic agent against any pest. To do this, rub a piece of laundry soap on a fine grater, dry it, pour the resulting powder into a container and use it as needed. It is added to water in 1 tbsp. spoon on a bucket, stir thoroughly and irrigate any plants from a watering can after watering. For a greater effect, you can use tar soap or add birch tar to the composition. If you use this tool constantly, pests will forget the way to your site.

A spider mite leaves a fine web of cobwebs on the leaves. An insecticide is used to combat it.

Field mice love to feast on mouse hyacinth bulbs. To scare off, you can plant strong-smelling or thorny plants nearby.

Aphids and spider mites can carry disease. The most dangerous diseases are mosaic or yellow dwarf onion virus. The leaves of such plants turn yellow without time, have a depressed appearance, they have whitish stripes and specks. Affected flowers do not respond to treatment. They are dug up and destroyed so that the disease does not spread further.

Application

Muscari is not used in official medicine. They have many beneficial properties, but due to their toxicity, they are used by traditional medicine only externally. In some Asian countries, they are used as a wound healing, analgesic, anti-aging agent. Essential oil is used in cosmetology as an antiseptic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, disinfectant. Effective as an aphrodisiac.

With the arrival of spring, these tiny plants fill our gardens and plots, delighting with graceful inflorescences that echo the azure of the spring sky. Muscari are great in mass plantings in flower beds. They are unusually combined with flowering shrubs in mixborders. They should be planted under large trees to revitalize tree trunks. With their blue color, they create a wonderful addition to daffodils, tulips, primroses, irises in miniature flower arrangements.

Muscari in vases look exquisite and bright. For New Year's holidays, they are used for distillation. The blue tassels of earthy lilacs fit perfectly between large plants, they are very effective in multi-tiered compositions. Many people consider muscari a shabby plant that does not deserve any attention. But there are a great many such plants in our gardens, and with good care they serve as a better decoration than many newfangled flowers, which still need to be accustomed to our conditions. And muscari bloom and delight the eye every spring, without causing any problems to their owners.

Types and varieties of muscari with photos and descriptions

Muscari Armenian Muscari armeniacum

Muscari Armenian Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker photo of flowers

Grows on the plains of the Caucasus and Turkey. A 2.5 cm diameter bulb produces linear leaves that are tapered at the top. Peduncle 20 cm long bears a multiflorous, almost spherical inflorescence with several sterile flowers at the top. The perianth with a constriction at the pharynx is bright blue with white teeth. Upper sterile flowers are lighter. It blooms in spring, hibernates without foliage, winter-hardy without shelter. Most common among amateur flower growers. For several centuries, breeders have been working on the creation of many varieties with different shapes and colors of the flower - their labors have been crowned with success.

Blue Spike grade - bred in Holland at the end of the last century. The aciniform inflorescence contains 150 - 180 blue fragrant flowers. Blooms two weeks later than usual, does not bear fruit. When emerging from the ground, it looks like a dark lump.Propagated by daughter bulbs. An unusually beautiful and unpretentious plant used both for decorative decoration of gardens and for composing compositions from cut flowers. If the weather is cool, then you can enjoy the bloom of terry bouquets for about three weeks. Suitable for forcing. Winters well.

Cantab variety - miniature form with bright blue flowers. A wintering variety that is very popular with flower growers.

Christmas Pearl, Christmas Pearl - garden mouse hyacinth with dark purple flowers. An amazing fresh musky scent accompanies long bloom.

Armenicum muscari fantasy creation muscari fantasy creation photo on a flowerbed

Fantasy Creation cultivar - differs in segmented color of the perianth, smoothly changing from green to blue. Flowering continues for a long time. Terry flowers, fragrant.

Dark Eyes cultivar - amazingly dark, cornflower blue color with white splashes. Looks great mixed with lighter views.

Muscari Oche or Tubergena Muscari aucheri = Muscari tubergenianum

Muscari in a flowerbed variety Muscari aucheri blue magic photo

Grows in the northwest of Iran. Blue peduncles with a pale jagged edge are collected by inflorescences up to 18 cm high. Winters without shelter. Poorly tolerates stagnant melt water. The 'Tubergenianum' variety has sickle-shaped leaves and lighter buds at the top.

Muscari uviform Muscari botryoides

Muscari flowers perennial variety Muscari botryoides ‘Album’ photo

Known since 1576. Small sky-blue, blue-violet or white flowers are collected in large inflorescences with a delicate aroma. On loose, rich soils, it develops into lush bushes. Variation Album resembles a scattering of pearls, Corneum is a pink cloud waving on a leg.

Muscari crested Muscari comosum

Plant muscari plumosum crested muscari comosum plumosum photo

The original plant from Southern Europe, North Africa, is considered a weedy in places of growth. The peduncle's arrow appears in June from a rosette with 3-4 belt-like leaves. The flowers are collected in a loose brush with a tuft, which is a bunch of sterile bright purple bells on long pedicels. Fertile water lily flowers are light brown with a cream edging. The height of the plant at full bloom is about 70 cm. Daughter bulbs are poorly formed - they multiply due to abundant fruiting and self-seeding.

This type of muscari looks great on lawns, in flower beds with perennial flowers, against the backdrop of a lawn. A popular variety is 'Plumozum', which differs in purple inflorescences on highly branched stems.

Muscari broadleaf Muscari latifolium latifolium

Muscari latifolium Muscari latifolium photo of flowers close-up

Inhabitant of the forest edges of Asia Minor. Oval bulb with lanceolate leaves and peduncle about 22 cm long. Multi-flowered inflorescence with purple flowers at the bottom and blue at the top of a dense cluster. This thermophilic species blooms in early May. The leaves of this specimen are similar to tulips.

Muscari longiflorum Muscari dolichanthum

Muscari longiflorum Muscari dolichanthum photo

It blooms in late April with azure flowers. The ovate bulb has 4-6 ribbon-like leaves and a flower arrow 14-16 cm high. The perianth with white teeth is cylindrical. Originally from the mountain belt of Western Transcaucasia.

White Muscari Muscari leocostomum

White Muscari Muscari leocostomum

A native of the lowlands of the Black Sea region and Iran. It blooms in April with an inflorescence of 40 ultramarine flowers edged with whitish teeth.

Muscari large-fruited Muscari macrocarpum

Muscari large-fruited Muscari macrocarpum in landscape design photo

The species differs in rather large flowers. There are blue, yellow, brown varieties. He comes from Greece and Western Turkey. In our latitude, it is recommended for growing in pots, brought into a dwelling for the winter.

Muscari Pale Muscari paiitns

The most graceful and miniature muscaricum comes from the subalpine meadows of the Caucasus.A pale blue perianth with white teeth adorns the plant. It winters well even in the northwestern territories of our country. The white-flowered variety 'White-rose Beautu' with white-pink flowers is known in the culture. In Latvia, the ‘Sky Blue’ variety has been bred with a sky-blue bottom and white top of the inflorescence.

Muscari racemose or unnoticed Muscari Rasemosum = Muscari neglectum

Primroses muscari blue cultivation and care When to plant Viper onions unnoticed photo

It differs little from the rest of the brethren, except that its flowers are slightly larger and tightly pressed against the peduncle. It reproduces by self-seeding and by children.