grape hyacinth
Noun: A grape hyacinth is a type of small, spring-blooming bulbous plant. It is characterized by its dense, conical or cylindrical clusters of tiny, rounded, bell-shaped flowers, typically in shades of blue or purple, which resemble a bunch of grapes.
The term "grape hyacinth" refers specifically to the plant itself. It is used as a common name for plants in the genus Muscari. - The border was lined with vibrant blue grape hyacinths. - We planted grape hyacinths in the fall for spring color.
- As a mass noun: The term can be used to refer to these plants collectively, especially when describing them as a ground cover or naturalized planting.
- A sea of grape hyacinth covered the woodland floor.
- Muscari: The botanical genus name for grape hyacinths.
- Bluebells: A different plant () sometimes confused with grape hyacinths due to similar blue spring flowers, but with distinct bell-shaped flowers on arching stems.
- Muscari (scientific name)
The term "grape hyacinth" has a single, specific botanical meaning. It does not refer to true hyacinths (genus Hyacinthus), which have larger, more fragrant flower spikes. The name derives solely from the visual resemblance of its flower clusters to bunches of grapes.
- any of various early flowering spring hyacinths native to Eurasia having dense spikes of rounded blue flowers resembling bunches of small grapes