| Pseudomuscari azureum | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| clade: | Angiosperms |
| clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Scilloideae |
| Genus: | Pseudomuscari |
| Species: | P. azureum |
| Binomial name | |
| Pseudomuscari azureum (Fenzl) Garbari & Greuter[1] |
|
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
|
Pseudomuscari azureum (syn. Muscari azureum) is a perennial bulbous plant. One of a number of species and genera known as Grape Hyacinth, it is grown in gardens for its Spring flowers.
Pseudomuscari azureum is a small plant, around 4–15 cm (1.6–5.9 in) high with two to three grey-green leaves per bulb. Up to 60 flowers are borne in Spring (March or April in the Northern Hemisphere) in a dense "spike" (raceme). Each flower is 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long and bright blue in colour with a darker stripe along each of the lobes. A feature which distinguishes the genus Pseudomuscari from the related Muscari is that the mouth of the flower is not narrowed but forms an open bell-shape. It grows in alpine meadows in north and east Turkey.[2][3]
P. azureum may be found in horticultural sources under the illegitimate name Hyacinthus azureus. The species is popular as a spring flowering bulb; Brian Mathew describes it as "a delightful plant" for use in rock gardens or underneath shrubs.[2] It is frost-hardy and should be grown in full sun.[3] There is a white cultivar, 'Album'.[2]