Muscari Joyce Spirit

Muscari 'Joyce Spirit' is a variety that can boast of its beautiful dark and intense shade. It develops conical and elongated flower spikes of a superb deep royal blue colour, with a clear white edge from bright blue buds in spring. Its medium green linear leaves are upright to semi-upright and the nectar-rich, slightly fragrant flowering occurs in April. This small bulb rests in summer, indifferent to heat.

Derived from Muscari armeniacum, 'Joyce Spirit' is a hybrid belonging to the asparagaceae family. This small bulb produces a basal rosette of long, very narrow, light and vivid green leaves, shaped like a gutter. Each rosette emits 3 to 5 flower stalks on a mature and well-developed bulb. The 12 to 15 cm tall flower stalks bear 20 to 40 small urn-shaped flowers, tightly packed in a compact cluster 10 cm tall. The white ring that encircles the "neck" of each small flower appears late. The fertile flowers located towards the top of the cluster are a slightly lighter blue. After pollination by insects, triangular fruits form, containing numerous round, black seeds that germinate very easily.

Muscari is a small, undemanding plant, but one that should not be overlooked because its range of soft or vibrant colours is delightful. 'Joyce Spirit' falls on the side of intense, dark flowering, with its royal blue colour. Its great resistance to cold, drought, and shade allows it to be used in many situations: in woodlands, at the base of trees, as a border to highlight the design of a pathway, in a rockery with heathers for example, or in Japanese-style gardens. It also grows very well in pots, on a windowsill or balcony. It is so accommodating that it will forgive watering neglect, and thrive in neglected or weekend gardens. Its blue flowers are very beautiful next to the yellow trumpets of daffodils, forget-me-nots, the fragrant clusters of early blue hyacinths (Blue Pearl, Delft Blue), or the pink and red cups of triumph tulips. You can also place muscaris in clusters in a lawn. It multiplies rapidly in good, rich, and well-draining soil.