Location, maintenance & design
In warm, bright locations with relatively dry, permeable soil, grape hyacinths grow and naturalize easily, thriving to form beautiful carpets of flowers. These undemanding flowers also thrive in partial shade, for example, at the edges of woodlands. Plant them in small or large clumps in the fall. If the location suits you, they will reproduce by self-seeding and daughter bulbs. If you want grape hyacinths to reproduce by seed, do not remove the flowers. In the summer, they develop into three-part capsules containing black seeds. However, if the faded flowers are regularly removed, new buds can continue to emerge. From around mid-June, the foliage dies back over the summer. Leave the yellowing foliage, even if it is not particularly attractive, as the bulb draws its strength from it. The narrow foliage will then sprout again in the fall.
They combine beautifully with taller bulbous flowers like daffodils or tulips. Partners at eye level, such as wood anemones or bellis, are also excellent. They look particularly attractive as borders for beds or paths, or in a variety of planters. The small flowers are also ideal for cutting.
TEXT: Victoria Wegner
