Muscari is a bulbous plant of the Hyacinthaceae family. There are about 60 Muscari species in total, with about 20 species in our latitudes. In nature, Muscari grows in steppes, on open slopes in the mountains, on forest edges, among bushes, and in alpine meadows.

Muskrats' flowers are small – they seldom reach even 30cm in height. Most often, the flower stalks grow to 10-20 cm in height. The inflorescences consist of a multitude (about 100-150) of small florets in a dense apex cluster from 2 to 8 cm long. These florets look like small barrels or bells, only about half a centimeter in diameter.

Muscari is colored in various shades of blue, blue, or purple. When planted in large groups, the Muscari form a colorful continuous carpet, making a beautiful spring garden feature. The clearing will grow over the years as the nutcracker bulbs multiply quickly, producing more and more flowers. Muscari can be kept in pots inside the flat and are usually planted as live bunches for Valentine's Day or March 8. Huskies are easy to care for at home.

See Also:

• How to Plant and Grow Fritillaria Flowers
• How To Plant Glory of The Snow Flower
• Dahlias – Varieties, Planting and Care
• Crocus Species and Varieties – Caring, Propagating and Transplanting Crocuses

Muscari is often grown as cut flowers in Europe. These lovely flowers make into quaint little bouquets for tables in cafés and restaurants.

Muscari is a small bulbous flower and consequently looks pretty good in groups. Isolated flowers can be difficult to keep upright: the flower stems and leaves may tend to bend in the wind, while the densely planted ones tend to support one another. Muscari bulbs are egg-shaped and only 2-3 cm long, so plant them shallowly. A few years after planting, the Muscari will grow a large number of daughter bulbs, which will produce their flowers.

Muscari can be cultivated in the same place for many years, but it is better to dig the bulbs out after 3 to 4 years and replant them because the baby bulbs have grown too large to bother one another. The flowers get crowded, they lack nutrients for growth, and as a result, the flower stalks get shorter, and the flowers get smaller.

Flower Diversity

The appearance of flower resembles that of an oblong tulip. The upper flowers on the panicle are usually lighter than the lower ones. The plant smells very strong and has an attractive appearance. Muscari flower for about four weeks. Muscari is grown in the Caucasus and northwest Turkey. Carpet glades of Armenian Muscari cover relatively dry plains. The flowers of this species are used as a border plant in flower beds.

• Sapphire – Small plants with dark blue inflorescences. Leaves are green and pointed. Muscari variety not found in the wild, bred by breeders. Fit for greenhouse heirloom cultivation, propagate with bulb seedlings.
• Cantab – Late flowering variety. Starts blooming with bright blue flowers in late May and flowers until mid-June. Considered a dwarf plant. Leaves and flower stems do not grow taller than 15 cm.
• Blue Spike – Its swollen, blue flowers in a panicle dominate the dark green, sharp-leaved foliage. Able to produce several deciduous bulbs per season. An attractive-looking plant with flowers with a lovely, delicate scent.
• Fantasy Creation – A plant with ground-spreading flowers is green at the start of growth and gradually turns a bright blue. The leaves are dark green. The plant will reach a height of about 20 centimeters.
• Blue Spike Fantasy Creation Pink Sunrise Sapphire – A plant with dark blue flowers with white borders arranged in a spike-like inflorescence. Tiny plant and the flowering stem is about 15 cm tall.
• Aes Duck – Small blue flowers on a spike-like flowering stem, not exceeding 20 centimetres in height, with a pleasant fragrance.
• Azerum – A plant with sky-blue, bright, paniculate inflorescences growing among the green foliage. The flower stalk reaches up to 20 centimeters tall.
• Superstar – Plant with dark blue flowers with white borders, arranged in a spike-like inflorescence. The plant is tiny, and the height of the flowering stem is about 15 centimeters.
• Christmas Perl – Plant with purple, small bells in one panicle, growing about 20 centimeters tall. Green and lush foliage adorn the whole plant. The flowers have a delicate and pleasant fragrance.
• Peppermint – Pale blue, pyramid-shaped panicles, up to 15 centimeters high, growing amongst abundant and dense foliage, dark green in color, with a pleasant fragrance.
• Crested Muscari – The plant has a non-typical outline of the flower stalk. The inflorescence on the stem resembles a disheveled panicle, pyramidal in shape. The bent, arched pedicels bear elongated perianths with peculiar tufts. It is called Crested Muscari because of the presence of these inflorescences.
• Pale Muscari – A tiny plant, it grows no taller than 13 centimeters. The flower stems are made up of pale blue flowers. Blossoms for a couple of weeks. It has beautiful, small, dense leaves, and the flowers
  smell nice.

• Winterose Beauty – A variety belonging to the Muscari pale species blooms with small pinkish-white flowers with a pleasant and persistent fragrance.
• Muscari Multiflorum – Found in southwestern Transcaucasia and northeastern Turkey, the West Siberian plains, and the mountainous areas of the Ural Mountains. The flower arrow is pyramidal in shape. The tiny bells, which are much more numerous than those of the usual musk rush variety, are very similar to those of lily of the valley and have a dark blue color with wavy edges tinged with white. Flowering occurs in April and lasts up to four weeks. Bushes of Muscari multiflorum are about 20 centimeters tall. It is very delicate and has a pleasant fragrance.

If you want to decorate the landscape, you can use different types, varieties, and colors of muskrats, which will significantly enhance the planting of flowers.

Propagation Methods

Muscari can be propagated by seed and by vegetative propagation. There are varieties for which only one of the above options is possible. By seed propagation, the varietal traits are not transferred. Note that the germination of seeds decreases considerably after 12 months of storage. They are sown immediately in the open ground in wells 1-2 cm deep. Over the winter, the seeds will undergo natural stratification, and the first shoots will appear in early spring. The seedlings form a bulb and build a green mass for a few months. Flowering begins in the second or third year of life.

The easiest and most common propagation method is to separate offspring (young bulbs). Fortunately, several will be produced in a season. Do not detach the buds every year. Letting them grow and gain strength over 3 to 4 years is better. The best time for dividing and replanting is August-September. Depending on the size of the bulbs, the planting depth will be 4-6 cm.

Care Secrets

Planting. It is best to transplant the plants at the end of flowering and vegetation (August-October). They are distributed in groups of up to 10-15 but leave a free space between the individual bulbs. This will make the flower bed more decorative and visible. Before planting, inspect the bulbs for damage, trim any rotten or dark areas and disinfect them. First, soak them in a solution of Carbophos and then dip them in a robust explanation of manganese for an hour.

The place for planting should be sunny or located in the penumbra. The soil should be turned over, and large clods should be broken up. Make the planting holes at a distance of 6-8 cm shallow (up to 8 cm). The small bulbs are planted in a shady place in rows in the holes. First, fill the hole with sand over the soil and place the planting material vertically. Cover the bulbs with soil, tamp them down and water them well.

There is no need to dig out the Muscari every year. Plants overwinter well in temperate climates, but the plantings get too dense every 4-5 years. They need to be thinned out, and the topsoil renewed.

In early spring, fertilize the plants with compost or humus. Fertilize the plants for the first time when they begin to sprout. Re-fertilise during the budding period. While the Muscari flowers are flowering, it is sufficient to occasionally weed the soil in the vicinity of the flower bed.

The mature seeds will spill out easily, and the flowers will self-seed very quickly. To prevent this, remove the inflorescences when the buds have faded.

The flowers are highly immune, but the bulbs may suffer from fungal diseases. This occurs in overgrown plants, heavy and saturated soils, and by contact with a diseased plant. Of the parasites, the mouse hyacinth is overcome by aphids. They not only drink the plant's sap but also transmit viral infections. Affected specimens are almost impossible to save. They must be dug up to prevent the disease from spreading.

Muscari has distinct periods of activity and dormancy. In early summer the inflorescences are entirely dried out, but the leaves remain in place until frost. Cutting them back early is not recommended, as the bulbs store nutrients now. During the winter dormancy period, watering is no longer necessary. Cut off the dry shoots and mulch the soil surface with peat and dry foliage.

Pricking the Bulbs

Fragrant inflorescences can be enjoyed at any time of year. Artificially create the right conditions for the Muscari to flower. Dredge the bulbs as soon as the leaves have wilted and dry them out in a cool place. They are then placed in containers with peat or sand for storage. Initially, the temperature should be kept at 15-17°C. After a few weeks, place the bulbs in a room with a temperature of 5-9°C for 3 to 4 months. The vegetable compartment of the refrigerator can be used.

About 3 weeks before flowering, place the bulbs in pots with fertile, loose soil to a depth of about 2 cm. The top should remain on the surface. Place the plants in a well-lit area with a temperature of approximately 10°C. After a couple of days, raise the temperature to 15°C. The leaves will then sprout vigorously; after 2 weeks, the flower stems will emerge.

Muscari Use

The mouse hyacinth is cultivated mainly for decorative purposes. It is used in flowerbeds, and paths, and planted in front of shrubs. The rich hues of the inflorescences enrich the spring garden with clear blues, purples, pinks, or whites.

Conclusion

Muscari looks good alongside daffodils and tulips. They can also be combined with crocuses and bluebellies. A larger group of plants with different shades and flowering periods is always worth planting. Some varieties are suitable for container cultivation on balconies and patios. The scent of Muscari repels insect pests, so they are often planted among other crops as a natural insecticide.

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