Muscari aucheri White Magic - Grape Hyacinth

Muscari aucheri 'White Magic' is a horticultural variety even rarer than the blue form, with abundant small clusters of pure white flowers forming large, very bright, highly scented blankets in April-May, before the foliage appears. Derived from the species often grown in gardens, this vigorous little bulb is hardy and naturalises easily in the garden. It grows well in pots and borders, in well-drained soil, in full sun or partial shade.

Muscari aucheri is a bulbous plant from the hyacinth family, native to alpine meadows in the mountains of Turkey. White Magic is a medium-sized variety of muscari, introduced in 2008, which sometimes reaches 25 cm (10in) high and 15 cm (6in) wide. Its vegetative cycle begins in September-October when the foliage appears (often 3 leaves are observed). Its fairly wide, ribbon-like leaves are grey-green on the top, they remain neat after flowering and persist throughout the winter. A single flower stalk emerges in April-May depending on the climate and weather. The inflorescence is a cluster of flowers 2 to 6 cm (1 to 2in) long and about 1.5 cm (1in) wide, exhaling a heavy, heady scent. The urn-shaped flowers are small, only 5 to 6 mm (0in) long and very tightly packed together in a narrow, dense cone. The very pale green buds open into white bell-shaped flowers. This bulb naturalises slowly but surely in light soil.

Plant Muscari 'White Magic' en masse, in groups of about ten bulbs, in a flower carpet or along a path for a good decorative effect, or randomly naturalise them in a lawn and at the base of bushes. Its white flowers will highlight all the other spring bulbs. You can also associate it with other muscaris (M. 'Ocean Magic, M. latifolium, M. armeniacum) to further expand the colour palette. They go well with daffodils and wood anemones to create delicate scenes. Pink or white tulips are also good companions for their graceful flowers.