Grape hyacinth, Musk hyacinth, Nutmeg hyacinth
Muscari neglectum

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A bulb plant. It keeps growing from year to year from the bulbs. It grows 10-20 cm tall and spreads 5 cm wide. The leaves are narrow and have channels along them. They stick fairly upright. The leaves are mid green. They can be 6-40 cm long. The flowers are blue-black and oblong to urn shaped. These are in dense groups 5 cm long along a stalk.

There are about 30 Muscari species. Also put in the family Hyacinthaceae.

Where it is found

It is a Mediterranean climate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Australia, Britain, Caucasus, Central Asia, Europe, France, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Mediterranean, Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkey, Türkiye

How it is used for food

The bulbs or roots have a slightly bitter flavour. They are eaten. The flowers are sprinkled over pureed rhubarb to add flavour. The stalk of the flower is eaten raw as a snack.

Edible parts

Flowers, root, bulbs, flower stalk.

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Grozdasta hrušica, Matacandiles, Sunbul

Synonyms

Muscari racemosum Mill.; Muscari atlanticum Boiss. & Reut. ; and many others