How to Force Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) Bulbs to Bloom Indoors

06.06.2023 - 19:41 / gardenerspath.com / Lorna Kring

Many bulbs may be used for forcing indoor blooms over winter, such as amaryllis, hyacinths, and paperwhite daffodils.

But for something a little different, a pretty option to consider is Muscari, or grape hyacinth.

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Muscari plants are smaller than the other winter-grown forced bulbs, but their sweet fragrance and tight spires of cobalt blue, mauve, purple, or white flowers make a joyful impact in the dark days of winter.

Beloved for their explosion of color in the early spring garden, you don’t have to wait for plants to emerge from dormancy outdoors to enjoy their striking blooms – these easy-care bulbs respond well to any forcing method for indoor enjoyment even at the coldest times of year.

If you feel the need for a fabulous burst of colorful flowers this winter, grab some bulbs and read on to learn to force grape hyacinths indoors!

Here’s everything we’ll cover in this guide:

Grape hyacinth are perennials in the Muscari genus of the Asparagaceae family.

These robust, cold-hardy plants emerge in the late winter to early spring garden, adding color and charm in small stands or large drifts.

After flowering, the bulbs go dormant over summer, losing their foliage until early autumn, when they often resume growth and send up a few grass-like shoots.

To harvest bulbs for forcing, tag an existing clump while plants are flowering.

Insert a plant tag into the soil or outline the clump with pebbles. This is important to remember to do if you wish to start with existing bulbs that are planted outdoors, because after the foliage dies back,