Muscari armeniacum 'Valerie Finnis'

grape hyacinth

• Position: full sun or light shade
• Soil: moderately fertile, well-drained soil (for container-grown bulbs use two parts John Innes No2 compost to one part sharp grit)
• Rate of growth: average
• Flowering period: March
• Flower colour: pale lavender-blue
• Other features: strap-like, mid-green leaves
• Hardiness: fully hardy
• Bulb Size: 8/9
  
  Named after the distinguished horticulturalist who mysteriously 'found' it in her garden, this is a delightful, relatively new (2000) variety. It produces densely packed spikes of scented, powder-blue flowers on upright fleshy stems in March. The flowers are sterile so it is not as invasive as many of the other grape hyacinths, but it will slowly spread and naturalise in open fields and meadows. In cultivated areas, use it in alpine beds and pots where you can enjoy their delicate form, or use them in big numbers as edging.
  
  
• Garden care: Plant 10cm (4in) deep in naturalistic groups in autumn. During summer when the bulbs are dormant lift and divide groups that are becoming congested.