Grape Hyacinth 'Valerie Finnis'

The colour of Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’ is undeniably beautiful. The soft, lavender blue is a jewel in the garden. The stems are packed with small fragrant bells to create a grape like cluster at the top of the straight stem.

The foliage of Muscari ‘Valerie Finnis’ is grass like and handsome. They were named in honour of British plants woman and photographer Valerie Finnis (married name Scott).

Grape Hyacinths or Muscari are fantastic in rockeries, pots, nooks and crannies, along pathways, drifts, grass plantings or at the front of beds. The flowers look brilliant by themselves and are dynamite when planted with Miniature Daffodils.

In gardens or pots they are easy companions for tulips and daffodils too, growing below the bigger blooms and filling out the container.

A well drained humus rich soil is ideal but they will cope in poor soils as long as they have good drainage. Plant Grape Hyacinths in a full sun to part shade position; they can flower with just four hours sun a day, and in strong, filtered light. Water them in and then natural rainfall should take care of the rest. The grass like foliage emerges late autumn to winter and is quickly followed by the blooms.

Grape Hyacinth bulbs are best left to naturalise, where they can gradually multiply to form nice clumps. Adding some general purpose fertiliser as the flowers are forming will help to ensure good growth in the coming year.

They are known as Grape Hyacinths because the florets resemble a bunch of grapes, they also have a very light fragrance which is similar to musk or grape. They are native to Mediterranean Europe and South Western Asia.

IN POTS:

This is our recommendation for the best display, keeping in mind bulbs look best when planted nice and close together.

14cm/6” = 15 bulbs

20cm/8” = 30 bulbs

25cm/10” = 50 bulbs

See here for more hints and tips:

Top Ten Tips on How to Plant your Spring Bulbs in Pots