Scilla hyacinthoides (Hyacinth Squill) - This plant produces clumps of 2 inch wide bulbs with many (10 to 12) 1 to 1 1/2 foot long, 1 inch wide green leaves. In early to mid-spring appear the 2 to 3 foot long many flowered tall spike-like racemes bearing blue star-shaped flowers with white bracts.
Plant in full sun in cool coastal areas but provide some shade inland in a well-drained soil and irrigate little if at all . It grows best in nutrient poor stony soil and has gained a reputation for not blooming if the soil is too rich where it produces robust plants that offset well at the expense of flowering. It is very cold hardy Very hardy.
Scilla hyacinthoides is often thought as being native to the Mediterranean Sea basin but it originated from the Middle East and was spread by ancient cultures, naturalizing from southern Italy west to Portugal. Its currently correct name is Hyacinthoides hispanica. Our plants from John Bleck who received them from a friend in Israel where this plant is being grown in the cut flower industry. We sold this plant from 2010 until 2013.
The information about Scilla hyacinthoides displayed on this web page is based on our research conducted in the nursery's horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also include observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others and welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing this plant. |