Over fourth dimension , Scilla forms a carpet of nodding other bound blossom .
Squill or Siberian sea squill , also referred to by its botanical name , Scilla , is a springiness lightbulb that announces a novel garden time of year with bursts of dour greenish grass - like leaf . The leaves seem to emerge overnight in early bound . The tuft of foliation are apace followed by arching flower stalking that support one to three nodding blue or white flowers . These tiny blossoms with a odoriferous redolence decorate the garden for two to three weeks and , when engraft in expectant masses , catch the middle from a distance .
The flowers provide a welcome former - season nectar informant for bee . Squill is toxic to humans .
Where to Plant Squill
Squill flourish in locations with tripping subtlety or dappled tincture andwell - drain soilwith a neutral pH. The country below deciduous trees and shrubs and around the Qaeda of perennial are ideal planting locations for squill because the medulla complete their life hertz before the declamatory works thumb out and bound their sunshine .
For the most eye - pleasing upshot , flora squill in gallery of no few than 100 bulbs . embed bulbs along walkways , interspersed with perennials , and in herbaceous plant orrock gardens .
How and When to Plant Squill
Squill , like most bounce bulb , areplanted in fallas shortly as the soil has cooled down to around 55 degrees F , which is usually the compositor’s case after the first duo of declension frost .
Plant squill bulbs with the pointed grow tip facing up . engraft bulb so the fundament of the bulb sits 5 inch deep in the soil . blank space medulla 2 inch apart , or plant 20 bulbs per straightforward ft . Water the bulb after planting and again in late tumble if there is no rainwater .
Squill Care Tips
Squill are low - sustenance perennial that will addcolor to your spring gardenfor many years to come .
Light
pick out a localization that provide weak subtlety or dappled sunlight after surrounding trees and shrubs leaf out .
Soil and Water
The grease should be well - drained , with apH around 7.0 . Sandy loam is ideal . Like all flower bulb , squill will do poorly in heavy , dense grease with high remains content and pathetic drainage .
Temperature and Humidity
Squill is a very brave plant that hold out winter temperature as low as Zone 3 . On the other hired hand , summers above Zone 8 are too red-hot and winters too mild to develop them .
The electric-light bulb have no humidity requirements ; by the clock time the summer weather condition turns humid , they have entered their summertime quiescency so the foliation wo n’t be feign by humid weather .
Fertilizer
There is commonly no pauperization to fertilise squill . At the most , apply a low - N , high - phosphorus bulb orgranular fertilizerwhen the foliage emerges .
Pruning
After the bloom , the leafage directs energy into the bulb for the following time of year ; it ’s significant to let the foliage stand until it start to show signs of dormancy . Leave the leafage in piazza until it start out to turn icteric and shrink . If you found Urginea maritima in an region that you typically mow , delay the first mowing of the time of year . For the first mowing , correct the mowing height to at least 4 inches to limit the impairment to case-by-case Urginea maritima parting that have not yet reached dormancy .
Potting and Repotting Squill
It is not recommended to grow squill in containers unless it is toforce them for early blooming . When grown as perennial , the bulb require systematically cold wintertime temperature to rise in effect root systems and get foliation and flowers in the spring . In pots , unlike in garden soil , the bulb are exposed to substantial temperature fluctuations and cycle per second of freezing and thawing , which harm the incandescent lamp .
Pests and Problems
Squill is barren of serious pest or disease . Deer and gnawer show no involvement in it .
How to Propagate Squill
Squill readily multiplies on its own , either through bulb offsets or ants carry the seeds ( that ’s why you might find squill in faraway corners of your yard ) .
The vulgar method to disseminate sea onion is by section when the patches get too crowded . As the leafage die back after the bloom , mark the emplacement so you know where to compass the bulb in the crepuscle . expend a excavator to dig up the bulbs . Discard any stagnant and damaged bulbs and replant the remnant in a new localization as described underHow and When to Plant Squill .
Types of Squill
Scilla siberica ‘Spring Beauty’
This cultivar isthe most popular squill . It is somewhat larger than the species , longer blossom , and the flowers are deeper drab . Zone 3 - 8
Scilla siberica alba
The clean variety ofScilla sibericahas generally formed , ship’s bell - shaped flowers on 3- to 5 - inch prow . Zone 3 - 8
Scilla bifolia rosea
Also have sex as alpine squill , this early - blooming scilla has soft pinkish , lightly odoriferous heyday , Zone 4 - 8
Scilla mischtschenkoana
Multiple ( up to four ) bloom stems with show light blueish - white flowers set this scilla species apart . It was formerly known asScilla tubergeniana . Zone 4 - 8
Squill Companion Plants
Crocus
Whencrocusespop out of the primer coat , sometimes through snow , you sleep with winter is come to an end . Large section of the midget , earth - hugging flowers planted beneath deciduous trees create a spectacular pot . This plant also possesses the major power to have it away up rock gardens , brighten the ground in front of shrubs , and communication channel sidewalks with splashes of color . zona 3 - 8
Creeping Phlox
Phlox subulatais a low - mound variety ofphloxthat is covered with lustrous flowers in spring . It forms curt , thick cushion of delicately textured , stiff foliage . Because it rarely tops 6 inches in altitude , it fit in nicely with low - develop bound bulbs such as squill . Zone 3 - 8
Daffodils
For the earliestdaffodilsto light up up the landscape painting with their gold - yellow blossom , choose ' Rijnveld ’s Early Sensation ' or the early , miniature yellow ' Tete a Tete ' . Daffodils are hardy plants that resile back even after late snow shower . Once you have engraft daffodils , they ’ll return year after year and even multiply with minimum concern . Zone 3 - 8
Frequently Asked Questions
Squill has escaped from residential gardens into natural areas in the Northeast , Midwest , and Great Lakes Region of the United States and Eastern Canada . With its speedy spread , it has the potential difference to outcompete native coinage .
Despite its botanical name , Scilla siberica , the flora is not aboriginal to Siberia but to easterly Central Europe , the Caucasus , the Balkans , and Turkey . It was introduced to North America as an ornamental in the late 1700s .
Updated by Nadia Hassani
" Scilla . " North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension .
