Muscari neglectum
| Muscari neglectum | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 4 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 0.3' |
| Blooms: | Mid Spring-Late Spring |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
 | |
Muscari neglectum (common name: grape hyacinth)
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as ripe in a greenhouse[1]. The seed can also be sown in early spring in a greenhouse. A good proportion of the seed usually germinates within 2 - 3 months. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first year of growth. Give them an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants become dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs placing 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in the greenhouse before planting them out when they are dormant in late summer.
Division of offsets in July/August after the leaves die down[2]. It can be done every other year if a quick increase is required[2]. Larger bulbs can be replanted direct into their permanent positions, but it is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out when they are dormant in late summer.
Cultivation: Prefers a rich open well-drained soil and a sunny position[2][3]. Easily grown in any well-drained soil[3].
Grows very well in short grass[2], increasing freely[4] and it can become invasive[1].
The flowers secrete lots of nectar and are a valuable bee plant in the spring[6]. The flowers are said to have a smell like wet starch[6] whilst another report says that they are deliciously plum-scented[7].
Range: Mediterranean region, north to Britain, Belgium, Germany and S. Russia.
Habitat: Dry grassland in sandy soils[6][8].
Edibility: Bulb - cooked[9][10][11][12]. The bulb is up to 25mm diameter[1]. One report says that the bulb might be poisonous[6].
The flowers, sprinkled over rhubarb, add a wonderful scented flavour[12].
Pollinators: Insects, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Mid Summer-Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: The bulb is poisonous[6]. It contains a substance called comisic acid, which is said to act like saponin[6]. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be fou
Also Known As: M. atlanticum. M. racemosum.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Bulbs. Pan Books, 1989.
- ↑ Grey, Charles. Hardy Bulbs. Williams & Norgate, 1938.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Genders, Roy. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale, 1994.
- ↑ Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ Corbetta, Francisco. The COmplete Book of Fruits and Vegetables. 1985.
- ↑ Kunkel, Günther. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books, 1984.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.