Puschkinia scilloides Libanotica

Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica, also known as Lebanese puschkinia, is a bulbous plant, similar to wild hyacinth (scilla). It grows in large colonies in cool woodlands, bearing beautiful pale-blue bell-shaped flowers in early spring. Its glossy green ribbon-like leaves form elegant upright tufts. In the garden, it is a perfectly hardy plant that requires no maintenance. Its bulbs multiply on their own and remain in place, forming large carpets over time that enhance the landscape year after year.

Puschkinia scilloides is a perennial herbaceous plant with a bulb, belonging to the Asparagaceae family. It is native to wet areas and alpine meadows in the Middle East and Near East. It prefers bright semi-shade and light woodlands, as well as deep, humus-rich, sandy-loam soils with a slightly acidic tendency.

In spring, it develops a cluster of 3 to 6 upright and then trailing basal leaves, which are narrow and linear. A floral stem emerges from the centre of the tuft from February to May (depending on the climate), reaching a height of 15 to 20cm (6 to 8in). At its tip, it bears a cluster of 5 to 10 small bell-shaped starry flowers, which are pale-blue with turquoise stripes. The foliage dries up in June, while the fruit-laden floral stem persists until August.

Lebanese puschkinia is best planted en masse in an herbaceous border, along a path, or under lightly foliaged trees. It looks stunning when paired with wild daffodil (Narcissus pseudo-narcissus), which thrives in the same conditions. Other lovely unassuming plants such as wood anemone, winter aconite, wild garlic, or white asphodel (Asphodelus albus) can accompany it in the morning sun or semi-shade, at the edge of a shrub border.