Hyacinth vs Grape hyacinth
Not as close as the names suggest: they are different genera, alike only in their spikes of bead-like flowers. Hyacinths are the big, waxy, heavily scented spikes in many colours, and a dozen bulbs by a door scent the whole entrance. Grape hyacinths (Muscari) are smaller, nearly always blue, and multiply into ribbons of colour at the front of a bed, and into the lawn. Hyacinth bulbs are poisonous, and handling them can irritate skin.
 HyacinthHyacinthus orientalis |  Grape hyacinthMuscari armeniacum | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 10 in tall, 5 in wide | 6 in tall, 4 in wide |
| Plant | 4 in apart | 4 in apart |
| Zones | 4 to 8 | 4 to 8 |
| Light | Full sun | Full sun to part sun |
| Soil | Well-drained, average fertility | Well-drained, average fertility |
| Flowers | Mid April to early May; blue, purple, pink, white, yellow | Mid April to early May; blue |
| Leaves | Medium, summer-dormant | Fine, summer-dormant |
| Job in a bed | Bulb layer | Bulb layer |
| Pets | Toxic (moderate) | No toxicity recorded |
| Deer | Resistant | Not listed as resistant |
| Native | No | No |
| Spread | Low risk | Moderate risk |
Rows where they differ are marked. Flowering times are for zone 5.
Which to choose
- Choose hyacinth for deer country and more height (10 in against 6 in).
- Choose grape hyacinth for more shade, a garden with pets and a smaller space (6 in against 10 in).
Can they grow together?
Yes: they grow in the same conditions. What grape hyacinth brings beside hyacinth: blue against yellow, opposite each other on the colour wheel, if you choose those colours, in flower together for three weeks; low enough (6 in) to stand in front of it. They share full sun and zones 4 to 8.
Read more: all about hyacinth, and all about grape hyacinth, each with a bed the planner designed around it.