Muscari atlanticum aka Starch Grape Hyacinth

Muscari atlanticum is a small bulb in the asparagus family. Its common names include grape hyacinth and starch grape hyacinth. It comes from eastern and southern Spain and Morocco. Kew places it in the temperate climate zone. It also grows in France, Belgium, and the eastern United States. This perennial forms upright clumps and returns each year. Garden plants reach 0.5–0.75 feet [0.15–0.23 metres] tall. Their spread is about 0.25–0.5 feet [0.08–0.15 metres].

The green leaves emerge in autumn from the plant's base. They are hollow and look like onion or garlic leaves. They lack the smell of those plants. Each narrow, simple leaf has smooth edges and a sharp tip. The blade has a channel or an almost round cross-section. Leaves measure about 0.42–1.33 feet [0.13–0.41 metres] long. The foliage dies back before the plant's summer rest. Dormancy lasts from late spring until autumn growth starts again.

Flowers open in early spring on upright, leafless scapes. Each bulb sends up one to three flower stems. These reach about 0.67 feet [0.20 metres] tall. Each scape bears 20 to 40 small, urn-shaped flowers. The deep violet-blue blooms crowd together in a cone-shaped raceme. They have a scent and suit use as cut flowers. The fruit is a capsule.

Grow this bulb in full sun or partial shade. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, provided water drains well. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils all suit it. Keep the soil moist during active growth in spring. Reduce watering when the leaves start to die back. Plant bulbs in autumn, about 0.17 feet [0.05 metres] deep. Leave about 0.25 feet [0.08 metres] between bulbs. It grows at a moderate rate and needs little upkeep. Its listed hardiness range covers USDA zones 4–8.

Use groups along edges, in rock gardens, or in containers. It also suits cottage gardens and can form ground cover. Plants live for many years and can spread by seed. Divide crowded clumps to renew them or make more plants. NC State reports no serious pest or disease problems. Its account calls the flowers edible, with a bitter grape taste. Yet it also lists flowers and leaves as mildly poisonous. The bulb contains comisic acid, which acts like saponin. The source warns against eating large amounts of saponin-containing foods. It reports no contact dermatitis.