Scilla siberica

The Scilla siberica, called Siberian squill, is a small early-flowering bulbous plant that brings quite exceptional colour to the garden from the end of winter. It is a very hardy plant that establishes itself in colonies and blooms in an extremely vibrant blue. Easy to grow, apart from the dry climates and exposures it fears, it naturalises easily in the garden, in natural areas or even in rockeries.

Contrary to its name, Siberian squill is native to southwestern European Russia (Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Crimea), the Caucasus, and Turkey. In nature, it mainly grows in wet meadows or sparsely wooded areas under large deciduous trees that let in the winter sun. Depending on the classifications, it is a perennial bulbous plant belonging to the lily or hyacinth family; it is highly resistant to cold and can withstand temperatures well below -15 °C (5°F). Each small bulb develops a few dark green ribbon-like basal leaves in February or March, from which flower stems of 12 to 15 cm (5 to 6in) emerge. Each stem bears small clusters of 4 or 5 flowers with six pure blue petals veined with a deeper blue, forming small pendulous bells of 1.5 cm (1in) in diameter. The flowering is followed by seed formation, and then the foliage disappears in summer, leaving the bulb dormant underground. Siberian squill spreads both through spontaneous seedlings and the production of bulb offsets.

Siberian squills are among the first flowers of spring, right after Persian squills (Scilla tubergeniana) and snowdrops; they arrive at the same time as large-flowered crocuses and primroses. They find their place in slightly wild beds and natural meadows, or even along paths, mixed with other bulbs that will take over (botanical tulips, Chionodoxas, wood hyacinths, grape hyacinths, etc.). They can be planted at the base of large deciduous trees or in a natural meadow that will not be mowed until summer: the dormant bulb can withstand light trampling.