Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten.
Muscari neglectum Guss. ex Ten.Grape Hyacinth
Description
Bulb
Grape hyacinth bulbs are ovoid, 2 to 3 cm long and 2 to 3 cm wide, with offsets usually present. Tunic is dark brown.
Leaves
Bulb produce 3 to 6 leaves. The blade is channeled to subterete, narrowly linear and 15 to 30 cm long and 2 to 5 mm wide. Apex is abruptly contracted.
Flowers
Flowers are obvoid to oblong-urceolate or cylindric, 4 to 6 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. Racemes have 20 to 40 flowers, usually blue.
Life History
The genus Muscari, commonly and collectively known as grape hyacinths, are a group of perennials native to Eurasia that produce spikes of dense, most often blue, flowers resembling bunches of grapes in the spring. They produce many seeds and daughter bulbs yearly and bloom early to mid-Spring.
Habitat
Grape hyacinths are hardy and prefer full to partial sunlight, and average to moist conditions. They will not tolerate standing water.
Origin and Distribution
Brought from Russia as an ornamental, grape hyacinth is found across the United States along roadsides, fields, woods and abandoned gardens.
Management Recommendations
Mechanical Control
Repeated pulling or digging will eventually get rid of this plant.
Chemical Control
Spraying them with vinegar or an acetic-acid-based organic commercial weed-killer also will ultimately eradicate them. Glyphosate is effective but a surfactant is recommended because the leaves do not easily absorb liquids.
