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Scilla verna

spring squill

Asparagaceae Atlantic coasts of western Europe

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterLow · drought-tolerant

HardinessZones 5–8

Overview

Scilla verna is a small bulbous perennial 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) tall, growing from a rounded bulb and flowering in spring on short coastal turf. Several narrow, channeled basal leaves, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, appear before the flowers and often curl at the tips. Each bulb sends up a short stem carrying a tight, flat-topped cluster of 2 to 12 star-shaped flowers, each about 0.4-0.6 inch (10-15 mm) across, in violet-blue with blue anthers and a small blue bract behind each flower. The flowers give way to small rounded seed capsules. The plant grows in short, grazed maritime grassland, cliff tops, and dunes, mainly on the western coasts of Europe. It is dormant through summer, dying back to the bulb after seeding. A limitation in gardens is its specific need for open, short coastal-type turf, as it is quickly overgrown by taller, more vigorous plants.

Native Range

Scilla verna is native to the Atlantic coasts of western Europe, from northern Spain and France through the British Isles to Norway. It grows on cliff-top grassland, dunes, and short maritime turf within reach of salt-laden air.

Suggested Uses

Scilla verna is used in coastal gardens, rock gardens, raised beds, and short wildflower turf where it can grow without competition. It naturalizes in thin grassland and gives low blue color in spring. The early flowers supply nectar for emerging bees and other insects.

How to Identify

Recognized by low clusters of violet-blue star-shaped flowers with blue anthers, each backed by a small blue bract, on short stems in spring. The narrow basal leaves emerge before the flowers and often curl at the tips. The small blue bracts and spring flowering separate it from the autumn squill (Prospero autumnale), which flowers in late summer without leaves.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height2" - 6"

Width/Spread2" - 4"

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~3 weeks

Spring

Flowering occurs in mid to late spring, mainly April to June depending on latitude. The flat clusters of blue flowers open over two to three weeks on short coastal turf. Seed capsules form as the flowers fade and the plant moves toward summer dormancy.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.0 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

sand loam rocky

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Low

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Time to Maturity

2-3 years

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Scilla verna grows in full sun in light, freely drained sandy or stony soil, tolerating a pH from about 6.0 to 7.5 and coping with salt-laden coastal air. It needs an open, low-growing setting where taller plants will not shade or smother it. Bulbs are planted in autumn and left undisturbed to form colonies over time. The plant needs no feeding and little water, drawing on winter and spring moisture before going dormant. Foliage is left to die down naturally to feed the bulb. It struggles in rich, heavy, or shaded ground.

Pruning

No pruning is needed. The foliage is left in place until it withers after flowering, then pulls away cleanly. Spent flower heads can be removed where self-seeding is not wanted, or left to allow natural spread.