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Muscari botryoides

Common Grape Hyacinth · Compact Grape-hyacinth

Family AsparagaceaeGenus Muscari

Dense spikes of deep violet-blue bells, each spike tight as a bunch of grapes, rising from grass on bare green stalks.
FlowerLiveon001 ©Travis WittCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Bulb, Ground Cover, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
4-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
2-6 in5-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Dappled Sunlight; Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally DryExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Worth knowing

  • Botryoides refers to the look of a miniature bunch of grapes. Each spike carries fertile flowers pointing down and paler, sterile ones pointing up. It comes from the open woods and mountain meadows of central and south-eastern Europe. Wikipedia: Muscari botryoides

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around April 11, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on April 10, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 90 days.

100% germination in 90 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Muscari (Liliaceae). M. botryoides germ. 95-100% overall in several patterns. The most convenient is to use seed DS 6 m at either 70 or 40 in 70-40(100% in 3rd m). Less convenient is fresh seed in 70-40(74%)-70-40(26%) and 40(5%)- 70(7%)-40(87%) or DS seed in 40(85%)-70(15%). The cotyledons develop within a week on shifting to 70. Seed sown outdoors in June starts germinating in October again showing the 70-40 germination pattern. - 1180-
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

87% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Muscari (Liliaceae). M. botryoides germ. 95-100% overall in several patterns. The most convenient is to use seed DS 6 m at either 70 or 40 in 70-40(100% in 3rd m). Less convenient is fresh seed in 70-40(74%)-70-40(26%) and 40(5%)- 70(7%)-40(87%) or DS seed in 40(85%)-70(15%). The cotyledons develop within a week on shifting to 70. Seed sown outdoors in June starts germinating in October again showing the 70-40 germination pattern. - 1180-
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    15 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

85% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Muscari (Liliaceae). M. botryoides germ. 95-100% overall in several patterns. The most convenient is to use seed DS 6 m at either 70 or 40 in 70-40(100% in 3rd m). Less convenient is fresh seed in 70-40(74%)-70-40(26%) and 40(5%)- 70(7%)-40(87%) or DS seed in 40(85%)-70(15%). The cotyledons develop within a week on shifting to 70. Seed sown outdoors in June starts germinating in October again showing the 70-40 germination pattern. - 1180-
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    26 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

74% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179Public domain
Show the original text
Muscari (Liliaceae). M. botryoides germ. 95-100% overall in several patterns. The most convenient is to use seed DS 6 m at either 70 or 40 in 70-40(100% in 3rd m). Less convenient is fresh seed in 70-40(74%)-70-40(26%) and 40(5%)- 70(7%)-40(87%) or DS seed in 40(85%)-70(15%). The cotyledons develop within a week on shifting to 70. Seed sown outdoors in June starts germinating in October again showing the 70-40 germination pattern. - 1180-
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Muscari p. 179. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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