<p>Muscari are a 'must-have' in any spring garden. Easy to grow, and suitable for a huge variety of uses, from large drifts through trees, in borders or planted in pots and troughs, and work wonderfully well on their own or combined with daffodils or tulips. </p>
<p>They orginated through much of Southern Europe and parts of western Asia, but have become naturalised throughout many other countries, including the UK. They are some of the shorter-growing spring bulbs - generally around 15cm, so perfect for the front of a border or as underplanting to taller flowers. They naturalise well, and will quickly increase in number to provide an even better display the following year. And the cherry on the top of the cake - they are sweetly scented too, so adding a few to a bunch of cut flowers brings a heady grape-like fragrance into the house. (The name derives from the Greek <em>muschos, </em> referrring to the musk-like scent.)</p>
<h4>How to plant Muscari bulbs:</h4>
<p>Plant bulbs about 8-10cm deep in any garden soil, except for very waterlogged sites. Muscari will grow in full sun or partial shade. Muscari look best when planted in clumps of 9 or more, rather than individually - plant each bulb about 5cm apart from its neighbour. As with most spring bulbs, leave the foliage to die off naturally, to replenish the stores in the bulb for the best display the following year.</p>
<p>Muscari combine amazingly with many other spring flowers - your imagination is the only limit to the possible combinations. Combine with white daffodils for a 'cool' look, or turn up the heat and plant with hot orange and dark red tulips. </p>
Muscari
Muscari are a 'must-have' in any spring garden. Easy to grow, and suitable for a huge variety of uses, from large drifts through trees, in borders or planted in pots and troughs, and work wonderfully well on their own or combined with daffodils or tulips.
They orginated through much of Southern Europe and parts of western Asia, but have become naturalised throughout many other countries, including the UK. They are some of the shorter-growing spring bulbs - generally around 15cm, so perfect for the front of a border or as underplanting to taller flowers. They naturalise well, and will quickly increase in number to provide an even better display the following year. And the cherry on the top of the cake - they are sweetly scented too, so adding a few to a bunch of cut flowers brings a heady grape-like fragrance into the house. (The name derives from the Greek muschos, referrring to the musk-like scent.)
How to plant Muscari bulbs:
Plant bulbs about 8-10cm deep in any garden soil, except for very waterlogged sites. Muscari will grow in full sun or partial shade. Muscari look best when planted in clumps of 9 or more, rather than individually - plant each bulb about 5cm apart from its neighbour. As with most spring bulbs, leave the foliage to die off naturally, to replenish the stores in the bulb for the best display the following year.
Muscari combine amazingly with many other spring flowers - your imagination is the only limit to the possible combinations. Combine with white daffodils for a 'cool' look, or turn up the heat and plant with hot orange and dark red tulips.
