What soil does Grape hyacinth grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Grape hyacinth hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

Is Grape hyacinth toxic to dogs?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to dogs.

Is Grape hyacinth toxic to cats?

No. Reliable sources list it as non-toxic to cats.

When does Grape hyacinth flower?

Flowering: March–May, blue, purple, white, pink.

How much water does Grape hyacinth need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Grape hyacinth cost?

Sold in local shops as a bulb or tuber from about HUF 75, and as a plant from about HUF 1,700.

Grape hyacinth

Muscari armeniacum

Grape hyacinth (Muscari armeniacum) is a perennial. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Non-toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops as a bulb or tuber from about HUF 75.

Illustration of Grape hyacinth — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

A low spring bulb with small grape-like clusters of mostly cobalt blue flowers (pale blue, white or pink in some cultivars) from late March to May; the other garden grape hyacinths such as Muscari botryoides, M. aucheri and M. latifolium are sold and grown the same way. Plant the bulbs in autumn in sun or part shade and well-drained soil, 8 to 10 cm deep and 5 to 8 cm apart, in generous drifts. It comes back reliably and multiplies fast by offsets and seed, so it can spread through a border: deadhead it and lift and divide crowded clumps in summer every few years if you want to keep it in check. The narrow leaves come up in autumn and overwinter, and after flowering they should be left to die back on their own.

Watch out for

It spreads quickly by offsets and seed and can become weedy in a mixed border; the tiny bulbs also travel with moved soil. The foliage that emerges in autumn and flops over winter can look untidy. Occasionally affected by smut, rust or bulb rot.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Low
Size after 10 years: 20 cm × 10 cm
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D March–May, blue, purple, white, pink

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	20 cm × 10 cm
Ultimate size	15–25 cm × 8–15 cm
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	March–May, blue, purple, white, pink
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Low
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	High
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	8 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic
For cats	Non-toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about HUF 75

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
bulb or tuber	approx. HUF 75 – HUF 5,500
size not stated	approx. HUF 1,700 – HUF 2,400

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

Appears in these lists

Perennials for part shade Perennials for full sun Perennials for clay soil Plants that are non-toxic to dogs Plants that are non-toxic to cats Perennials for pollinators Plants for containers Low-maintenance perennials Fragrant plants Fragrant perennials

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