Muscari armeniacum Peppermint - Grape Hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum 'Peppermit' is a very pale blue, probably the palest currently available. It blooms in the heart of spring with small, fragrant spikes of numerous, tightly packed small celestial blue flowers, white at the top of the spike. It is perfectly hardy in all regions and so prolific that a few bulbs planted in autumn form beautiful flowering and fragrant carpets in spring after a few years, in the middle of the lawn or under a leafy bush hedge. Armenian muscaris thrive best with partial shade in the afternoon.

Muscari armeniacum, sometimes called Armenian grape hyacinth, is a plant in the asparagaceae family. This small bulbous plant is native to the mountains of southeastern Europe and Armenia, as well as Turkey and the Caucasus, where it endures severe frosts. The plant produces a basal rosette of long, very narrow, light green and vibrant leaves. Each rosette produces 3 to 5 flower spikes on a mature and well-developed bulb. 'Peppermint' is a recent horticultural creation with bright and bicoloured inflorescences, of a particularly light porcelain blue, crowned with white flowers. The 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8in) tall flower spikes bear 20 to 40 small urn-shaped flowers, tightly packed in a compact cluster, 10 cm (4in) high. Each flower has a small white or very light blue margin. After pollination, fruits form containing numerous round and black seeds that germinate very easily. Plants grown from seed will not always be identical to the parent plant.

Muscari is a discreet but versatile and very useful plant in a garden or containers. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and shade allows it to be used in many situations: in woodland, at the base of trees, as a border to highlight the design of a pathway, in a rock garden alongside heathers for example, or in Japanese-style gardens. It also thrives in pots, on a window or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive neglect and thrive in untended gardens or weekend gardens. The blue flowers of the 'Peppermint' variety are very beautiful next to the yellow trumpets of daffodils or the pink and red cups of triumph tulips.