Scilla peruviana - Cuban Lily

Family: Hyacinthaceae

Common Name(s): Squill

Native to: Europe

Flowering: Spring

Watering: Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth.

Planting Aspect: Full Sun, Part Shade

Preferred Climate:

 

Temperate, Subtropical, Grassland

Description

Scilla natalensis
A large bulb which produces a tall stem around 90cm in height topped with a pyramidal raceme or head of up to one hundred powder blue to lavender blue horizontal flowers on pedicels. A striking plant which is ideal for planting anywhere in the garden, but particularly visual when set between boulders or in a large rockery.

Scilla siberica
Siberian Squill has up to 6 large and loosely arranged rich blue flowers that sometimes all face in the one direction on stems up to 20cm in height. Once mature, the bulb can produce more than one stem and when planted in groups, the large quantity of fallen or spent blooms will colour the ground blue in spring. Squill is very frost hardy and is best suited to locations with cold winters and mild to warm summers.

Cultivation

Select a sunny growing location, but with afternoon shade in very hot locations and preferably where no summer watering will be done. The soil should be free draining but moisture retentive. Prepare the growing site by digging over the soil and adding a good handful of blood and bone, rich compost or well decayed animal manure prior to planting out. Plant the bulbs 8 to 10cm deep and 8 to 10cm apart. Water in well at planting time and then on an occasional basis to promote growth. Discontinue watering altogether when the leaves begin to die back. A general fertiliser need only be applied if the soil is particularly poor. Protect them from snails and slugs.