At this time of the year our so-called lawn and gardens are covered with spikes of tiny, cobalt-blue flowers. They bloom for at least a month if the temperatures don’t get too hot.

Known as Grape Hyacinths (Muscari Armeniacum), the clusters of bell-shaped flowers grow from tiny bulbs that thrive in nearly all soil conditions. The blooms and green foliage last a long time, and squirrels and rabbits leave them alone.

They are known to naturalize, meaning that they establish themselves in gardens without significant effort, often leading to a dense and spreading patch in just a few years.

Their being considered as weeds is from their ability to naturalize and spread readily. This prolific reproduction can lead to them becoming a nuisance in some situations, especially in areas where they are not desired or where they compete with other plants.

The most successful way to remove them is by digging them out. Since their corms can be firmly anchored in the soil, and due to the fact that their sprouts are not super sturdy, the leaves will separate and leave the corm in the ground if you try to yank them out.

However, they do provide pollinators with an early-season nectar source when few flowers are in bloom, supporting our wonderful bees and butterflies as they emerge in spring.

So, we’re not getting rid of our hyacinths yet!