100 Species #33: Grape hyacinth

[urbpan]

These things are all over the yard. I totally stole this picture of grape hyacinth (Muscari sp.) from Alexis. Here's her version.

Grape hyacinth is a flower that typically grows from a cultivated bulb, but can reproduce vegetatively, spreading from one planting across your yard. Most people are okay with this Old World native increasing in size and scope on their property, since it adds a very attractive bit of color to the early spring, and seems to stay in flower a long while. Honeybees braving the cold early spring may come to pollinate the plant. The species most in use in American gardens is Muscari armeniacum, which is a forest wildflower across the countries of the eastern Mediterranean and the Caucasus, including Armenia.

Comments

[colinftm.livejournal.com]

I have lots currently inhabiting around the area near our side door in Ohio sharing space with two rosebushes and long grass, also some tiny tiny daffodils. I pick them for my girlfriend!