Garden Grape-hyacinth
Muscari armeniacum
Despite their grape-like clusters and sweet, musky scent, grape-hyacinths are actually members of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae).
- Scientific name
- Muscari armeniacum
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Liliopsida › Asparagales › Asparagaceae › Muscari
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- grassland
- Habitat
- Meadows, grassy slopes, open woodland edges, and cultivated gardens.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (produces energy via photosynthesis, absorbing water and minerals from soil).
- Range
- Southeastern Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Northwestern Iran, North America (naturalized)
- Size
- 15 to 20 cm in height.
- Lifespan
- Perennial; individual bulbs live for years and continuously multiply via offsets.
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat destruction in its native range due to agricultural expansion, though highly secure globally due to widespread cultivation.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless to touch and safe to admire from any distance. However, all parts of the plant, especially the bulbs, contain toxic saponins and should never be ingested. Keep pets away as it is toxic to dogs and cats. If ingested, seek medical or veterinary attention.
Muscari armeniacum is a bulbous plant of the genus Muscari with basal, simple leaves and short, flowering stems. It is one of a number of species and genera known as grape hyacinth , in this case Armenian grape hyacinth or Garden Grape-hyacinth . The flowers are purple, blue (with a white fringe), white (var. "Album") or pale pink (var "Pink Sunrise") and the plants are usually 15 centimetres (6 in) tall. M. armeniacum blooms in mid-Spring (April or May...
Photo: Patrick Hacker, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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