Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' Bulbs – Soft Blue Grape Hyacinth, Fragrant, Fall Planting

Muscari 'Valerie Finnis' is a refined and elegant Grape Hyacinth named for the legendary British plantswoman — and it lives up to its distinguished namesake. This variety stands out for its unusually soft, pale silvery-blue color, a cool and sophisticated tone that differs noticeably from the deep cobalt of standard Grape Hyacinth. Densely packed florets on sturdy stems make it an excellent edging plant for borders and rockeries, a top-tier container and pot-forcing variety, and a lovely shorter-stemmed cut flower. Fragrant, deer, rabbit, rodent, and squirrel resistant, and a vigorous naturalizer with top-size 8+ cm bulbs for strong first-year performance.

Why Gardeners Love It

• Distinctive soft silvery-blue color — pale and refined compared to standard blue Muscari
• Densely packed florets on sturdy stems — perfect for edging, rockeries, and borders
• Fragrant blooms — lovely in small posies and short-stemmed cut flower arrangements
• Excellent for pots, containers, and indoor forcing
• Deer, rabbit, rodent, and squirrel resistant
• Top-size 8+ cm bulbs for vigorous performance from the first year

Growing Details

• Type: Muscari (Grape Hyacinth)
• Bloom color: Soft silvery-blue (pale blue)
• Bloom time: Spring (3–4 weeks bloom duration)
• Height: 6–8 inches
• Corm size: Topsize 8+ cm
• Sunlight: Full sun to part shade
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
• Planting depth: 4 inches
• Spacing: 2–3 inches apart
• When to plant: Fall

Planting & Care

Plant bulbs pointed tip up in well-drained soil in fall, 4 inches deep. Water well after planting. Keep soil moist during the spring growing season but reduce watering once foliage begins to die back. Allow leaves to die back naturally to nourish the bulb. Naturalizes well by bulb offsets and self-seeding. For indoor forcing, chill corms at 40°F for 10–12 weeks then bring indoors to bloom.