Siberian Squills
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Scilla siberica (Siberian squill or wood squill) is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. Despite its name, it is not native to Siberia.
Growing to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) wide, it is a bulbous perennial, with two to four strap-shaped leaves appearing in early spring, at the same time as the nodding, blue, bell-shaped flowers.
The flowers have six petals and six stamens, and are arranged singly or in racemes of two or three.
Petals may be reflexed to the horizontal when sunlight is bright, but are more often cup-shaped.
The flowers are usually blue, but those of Scilla siberica var. alba are white. The stamens of Scilla are separate, unlike those of the related genera Puschkinia and Chionodoxa, which are fused into a tube. The pollen is dark blue.
After flowering, the flower stems become limp as capsules (pods) mature. At maturity, the capsules become purple and split open, releasing small, dark brown seeds. When the seeds are mature, the leaves wither and the plant goes dormant until the next spring.
Seedlings are hollow-leaved.
It is cultivated for its bluebell-like flowers.
It naturalizes rapidly from seed. At 15 cm (5.9 in), it is suitable for planting in grass, and will spread by seed to form large colonies that go dormant by the time grass needs to be mowed.
In the Midwestern United States it is becoming invasive in some situations.
It is practically carefree when planted in a good location.
Fertilize the plants when the foliage emerges in late winter or spring with a bulb fertilizer or a granular fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus.
You can deadhead the faded flowers as part of your care of Siberian squill to reduce self-seeding and prevent overcrowding and unwanted spreading.
Leave the foliage to die back naturally.
The plants are short, so the dying foliage is easily hidden behind other plants as they emerge in spring.
Growing to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) wide, it is a bulbous perennial, with two to four strap-shaped leaves appearing in early spring, at the same time as the nodding, blue, bell-shaped flowers.
The flowers have six petals and six stamens, and are arranged singly or in racemes of two or three.
Petals may be reflexed to the horizontal when sunlight is bright, but are more often cup-shaped.
The flowers are usually blue, but those of Scilla siberica var. alba are white. The stamens of Scilla are separate, unlike those of the related genera Puschkinia and Chionodoxa, which are fused into a tube. The pollen is dark blue.
After flowering, the flower stems become limp as capsules (pods) mature. At maturity, the capsules become purple and split open, releasing small, dark brown seeds. When the seeds are mature, the leaves wither and the plant goes dormant until the next spring.
Seedlings are hollow-leaved.
It is cultivated for its bluebell-like flowers.
It naturalizes rapidly from seed. At 15 cm (5.9 in), it is suitable for planting in grass, and will spread by seed to form large colonies that go dormant by the time grass needs to be mowed.
In the Midwestern United States it is becoming invasive in some situations.
It is practically carefree when planted in a good location.
Fertilize the plants when the foliage emerges in late winter or spring with a bulb fertilizer or a granular fertilizer that is low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus.
You can deadhead the faded flowers as part of your care of Siberian squill to reduce self-seeding and prevent overcrowding and unwanted spreading.
Leave the foliage to die back naturally.
The plants are short, so the dying foliage is easily hidden behind other plants as they emerge in spring.
