Leopoldia comosa (syn.Muscari comosum)
When spring rolls around and the adorable grape hyacinth flowers ( Muscarispp . ) come out of the ground , the garden take on a whimsical vibe .
I even welcome the bulbs that pop up out of the blue in the lawn .
Now take that gumption of whimsy and become the volume way , way up .
‘Plumosum’
Feather aka tassel hyacinth has the same grape - like heyday , only it ’s like they ’ve exploded , appear on the end of longsighted stalk .
Combined in grouping , they look like plumes of plume come out up in the garden .
tall than their grape hyacinth cousins , these bewitching bloom can grow up to two fundament tall . Although the individual plant are around six inches wide , they spread happily in clumps wherever the conditions are receive .
‘Plumosum’
Feather hyacinth grows in US Hardiness Zones 5 to 8 and returns dependably yr after year from hole-and-corner bulbs . Growing them is easy . To aid you figure out how to do it , we ’re going to handle the following :
What You’ll Learn
Quick Look
How to Grow
Where to Buy
Maintenance
generation
Pests and Disease
Feather hyacinth was formerly classified asMuscari comosa , but recent changes in theMuscarigenus create five young subgenus and a few species were moved out of theMuscarigenus and put into freestanding genus of their own .
Tassel grape vine hyacinth , as it ’s also known , was one of these species .
It was reclassified into theLeopoldiagenus , which is compose of plants that wait similar toMuscaribut are generally taller with flower spike that are more open , or spread apart , than its airless relation .
You ’ll still see tassel hyacinth classified asMuscari , and its care needs are pretty much the same as those of grape hyacinths , which you canread about in our guide .
Common name(s):Feather , tassel grape hyacinth
Plant type : Perennial flowering bulb
Hardiness ( USDA Zone):5 - 8
aboriginal to : Mediterranean and southern Europe
flush meter / time of year : Spring
Exposure : Full Sunday
Soil type : Loose , well draining
Soil pH:6.0 - 7.0 , slightly acidic to indifferent
Time to maturity:2 days
Mature size:6 inches wide x 24 inches high
good uses : Borders , container , bungalow , rock , or woodland garden
Taxonomy
order of magnitude : Asparagales
category : Asparagaceae
Genus : Leopoldia ( syn . Muscari )
Species : Comosum
L. comosaoriginated in the Mediterranean and southern Europe , and can be found as far SW as the Canary Islands and east to Iran .
Its northerly limit are Great Britain and Denmark , and it rank as far east as Ukraine .
The specie has also naturalized in southern Australia and North America .
The industrial plant takes its unwashed name from the uninventive upper bloom , which are vibrant reddish blue - down and appear on the remainder of stalks .
Below these are fecund flowers that lack the foresightful stalks . These are more of a blueish - fleeceable people of colour .
If you look closely at the sterile flowers , they resemble a purple menorah . The design of the unfertile prime is to attract pollinator to the fertile flowers underneath .
While the plants are ego - prolific , they can also be cross - pollinated .
After the flowers fade , dry , empty seed abridgment remain . At that point , the industrial plant pass back to the terra firma . Underground , the blood-red - pink ellipse bulbs store up vim for the next year .
Tassel hyacinths have been in cultivation for centuries but not necessarily because gardeners were interested in the blossoms . The bulbs are edible and they can be reap before the efflorescence stalk emerge .
The preserved bulb are a culinary treat in Italy and are known as lampascioni sott’olio , which understand to risky tassel hyacinth bulbs in oil . It ’s service as an appetizer .
Somewhere along the way , plant breeders decided to focus on the foul-smelling flowers . At one period , there were two similar - looking cultivars : ‘ Plumosum ’ and ‘ Monstrosum . ’
They are treat as the same cultivar today , but they were discrete at one point .
The ‘ Plumosum ’ cultivar has flower stems full deal in the sterile , branched purple bloom .
These feathery stalks of flowers grow in mid - spring , typically around May , bet on where you live .
The foliage seem in clunk of up to six inch long , additive , Gunter Grass - like leaves .
Thanks to their height , feather hyacinth are fabulous in floral edge . Mix them withdaffodils , tulip , andirisesfor an ongoing display .
They ’re also beautiful in John Rock gardens , bulge up among the stones and paired withsedums .
permit them spread unchecked in a timber gear up orcottage garden . The impact of a mass planting of the tasseled blossoms is operose to imagine until you see it .
They also work in big container .
Next countenance ’s sing about their growing requirements :
Light
Plant plume hyacinth in full Lord’s Day for the upright blooms . They can survive in less weak , but they wo n’t flower well .
ensure they are uncover to at least six hours of sunlight per day .
Soil
While they ’ll tolerate some sand or remains , the soil should ideally be loose , with proficient drainage , and a pH between 6.0 to 7.0 .
A small bit of clay or Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin is all right , but invalidate heavy clay or super sandlike soil . profound clay drains badly and sand is hard to keep moist .
Water
During the saltation and through flowering , the ground should stay consistently moist .
After florescence , you’re able to basically stop watering . They abide drought and go semi - dormant during the dry summertime .
Fertilizing
Do n’t fertilize your feather hyacinth plant . If you course them , they ’ll focus on spring up the foliation rather than the flowers .
No offence to the leafage , but it just kind of looks like grass . surely not the focal detail . We require flowers !
Containers
If you ’re distressed about them spread , develop your bulbs in containers .
verify the pot is heavy enough to allow them to circularise a bit and it has drain trap at the bottom .
A three- or five - Imperial gallon tummy would be gross . Fill the container with any standard potting territory .
Learn more about growingMuscariin container here .
I ’m not get going to lie ; it can be hard to get these plants . wait at strong suit nurseries , peculiarly those that stock scads of dissimilar bulb .
on-line resources can be especially utilitarian for hunting down rarified and unusual plant like this .
There ’s no sustenance required with plumage hyacinth unless they go to spread where you do n’t want them .
If that happens , the just elbow room to polish off them is to dig down and extract out the bulb . you’re able to plant these elsewhere or give them away to fellow gardener .
Getting started with plume jacinth is simply a case of found the bulbs . you may divide overgrown clumps as well .
When planting , set the bottom of the bulb about five inches deep in the ground .
That might sound mystifying , but the bulb have retractile roots that tug them even deep into the ground . Space the bulbs about an inch aside .
you could find out more inour guide to propagating grape hyacinth .
Managing Pests and Disease
Feather hyacinth has few problems . And by few I mean you ’re more probable to be mete out with constraining the flora than trying to nourish them through an issuing .
Aphidsare the most likely pest you ’ll meet . They habituate their sucking mouthparts to flow on the farewell and stem , causing yellowing and scrawny growth , if there are enough of them .
Use a blue-blooded stream of waterfrom the hoseto spray the aphid off the plant .
You might need to do this a few time , once a week for a calendar month . There ’s no demand to change by reversal to insecticides .
Welcome Our Feathered Friends
These funky flowers are effortless to handle for while bestow some unusual and outsize impact with the tassels of bright purple flowers .
If you ’d care to get wind grape vine hyacinth in the garden , have a read of these usher next :
© call for the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Kristine Lofgren
