Bulb · Asparagaceae family
grape hyacinth
Muscari armeniacum
In short a 10-second read
Grape hyacinth (bulb) grows to 0.15–0.25 m tall and 0.08–0.15 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. It flowers in April; the flowers are blue, purple or white. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 0.08–0.15 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy, sandy
Soil pH 6–7.5
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 2–5 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
April · blue, purple or white
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove the leaves once they have turned yellow (May–June).
Planting
bulb: September–November
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Dies back in winter and regrows in spring
What to combine it with
Same needs, different flowering.
They share the same sun and soil and flower in other months — so the bed flowers for longer.
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does grape hyacinth flower?
In April; the flowers are blue, purple or white.
Does grape hyacinth tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does grape hyacinth need?
At maturity 0.08–0.15 m wide and 0.15–0.25 m tall; recommended spacing 10 cm.
Does grape hyacinth survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 17 expert sources. Last checked 20 October 2026.
Show sources (17)
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Muscari armeniacum
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Muscari armeniacum
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Muscari armeniacum
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Muscari armeniacum
- Wikidata (CC0) — Muscari armeniacum
- EPPO Global Database — Muscari armeniacum
- Foerster-Stauden, katalóg
- Missouri Botanical Garden PlantFinder
- RHS - Bulbs: growing guide
- RHS - Muscari armeniacum
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EASIN, EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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