The small but exquisite Muscari macrocarpum. My wife has been wanting this one for many years and we finally got one a couple of years ago. This is its first flower.

Tony Palmer (20 June 2001)
Auckland, New Zealand

A species for warmer conditions which so far in Zone 9b has done extremely well in a container, and this year I planted out a clump. It is said to be frost tender so I have been cautious thus far, and since we have had no frost this year yet I cannot comment on its hardiness. It flowers here in NZ at 39º south latitude, and about 174º 12 min east longitude from about the shortest day till the end of July. The flowers are sweetly scented and in the garden they show up surprisingly well for their size. The foliage is a little more glaucous than the common Muscari species, and a little more wider in the blade. I have not been able to set seed on it. It was obtained from a garden centre as dry bulbs in summer and the only reference I have been able to find is the "Bulbs" book by Phillips & Rix in the Pan series of reference books.