Muscari comosum 

'Tassel Hyacinth'

[Ex. Gouves, Crete, Greece]

Asparagaceae: a bulbous perennial to 15-50cm. Found in scrub and grassy ground, common on grassy banks and road verges. The flower-head is often over20cm long, and has an open appearance. The fertile flowers are brown with pale greenish yellow teeth, and are widely separated. As they mature, they droop downwards. The infertile flowers, at the top of the flower-head, are more densely crowded, and have upswept stalks, and are purple or electric-blue. The linear leaves are 5–15mm wide, with a central channel. Native Europe. Found as a casual Britain.

USES:

The bulbs can be cooked and eaten. The bulbs are around 35mm in diameter, that have a slightly bitter taste. They are appreciated by certain ethnic groups, especially Greeks and Italians, how use the in spring. The cooked bulbs, preserved in oil, are used as a relish.

The bulb is appetizer and diuretic. The bulb is rich in mucilage and can be crushed then applied as a poultice to reddened skin.

GROWING INFORMATION:

The seed can also be sown in autumn to early spring in a greenhouse. A good proportion of the seed usually germinates within 2-3 months. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be left undisturbed in the pot for their first year of growth. Give them an occasional liquid feed in the growing season to ensure they do not become nutrient deficient. When the plants become dormant in late summer, pot up the small bulbs placing 2-3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another one or two years in the greenhouse before planting them out when they are dormant in late summer.

Prefers a rich open well-drained soil, doing well in short grass, increasing freely and it can become invasive. The flowers have a pleasing perfume.

HARVESTED: 2023*

 

APPROX. 10 SEEDS