Grape Hyacinths in Summer Shade?

[GardenGeisha]

Several years ago we built a raised bed that did not do right. The soil got too hot, I think, from the plastic liner, even though we poked lots of holes in the liner. Nothing would grow, except tulips and a few other things like ornamental cabbage and carrots. The soil suddenly seems better. Just now I accidentally dug up some grape hyacinth bulbs while weeding tulips in another part of my yard. The raised bed is under a vining maple that shades it almost all summer, so ...I can't really grow anything but shade plants in it, since I don't want to cut the vining maple, as I love it. But I'm wondering whether grape hyacinths would do well in that raised bed. A huge blue "sea" of grape hyacinths would be fun, and they would bloom before the tree leafs out. But would their foliage need full sun in the summer in order for the grape hyacinths to return each spring? Or would they do just fine in the shade? If anyone has a patch of grape hyacinths to share, I would love to try this experiment.

 

[GardenGeisha]

The grape hyacinths in this photo appear to be in the shade; don't they? http://www.visualphotos.com/photo/1x6042963/grape-hyacinth-muscari-sp-flowers.jpg

 

[Smart Red]

My hyacinths grow well in the shade as well as in the sun. They are supposed to be shade lovers that get an early start to grow and flower before the trees leaf out so full shade of evergreens might be too shady, but otherwise they should do well and flourish.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Super news, Smart Red! I have transplanted the grape hyacinths I accidentally pulled up today to the raised bed, so we'll see how they do. It just might be the perfect solution! Perhaps I'll throw in a few crocuses next fall, too.

 

[GardenGeisha]

Do you think crocuses would do okay in that shade, too? Any other fun bulbs you can think of that might thrive there? The last two years' tulips were not that showy, but that was all over my garden, not just in the raised bed. Hopefully, they'll be better this year, and if so, I'll plant some more. This is where my new Appledoorns are planted. Do you know whether daffodils are hardier than grape hyacinths and whether they tend to spread more quickly than grape hyacinths?

 

[GardenGeisha]

It's the heat of the summer that tends to get plants in this raised bed, or it has been, in past years. That's why I think the spring flowering bulbs might be my best bet for it, and I'd love spreaders. Do you think daffodils or grape hyacinths would do better under the shade of this vining maple in the summer heat?

 

[GardenGeisha]

The cats do love to lie in the shade on the raised bed in the summer, I guess I'll have to cover the bulbs as their foliage is drying. Otherwise, the cats might dig some of them up.

 

[Smart Red]

There are tiny, colorful alliums that bloom in the spring, scillia, and Glory of the Snow. Grape hyacinths and their relatives come in several colors as well. Crocus is another early bloomer that takes advantage of leafless trees, but would do better in dappled shade rather than full.

 

[GardenGeisha]

What different shades do grape hyacinths come in? Are there colors besides the blue-ish and purplish hues? Pink?

 

[GardenGeisha]

Oh, my, Smart Red. I just had an idea... What about filling my raised bed with regular hyacinths--- the super fragrant ones? Would they do okay under the vining maple in the summer, when it is leafed out. They are one of my earliest bloomers here. A whole bed of their fragrance would be so awesome! The ones in the yard are competing with weeds and I can't see their blooms well, but in the raised bed, they would be so showy! I LOVE the fragrance of hyacinths, and they come in a lot of colors too. I could make hyacinth rainbow?