Scilla Varieties

Treasured for their flowers, most Scillas bloom in spring, but a few species produce their pretty blooms in late summer or fall.  Which one is for you?

The genus Scilla (Squills or Bluebells) consists of about 90 species, mostly native to woodlands, subalpine meadows, and seashores throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle-East. A few species are also naturalized in Australia, New Zealand and North America. Treasured for their flowers, most Scillas bloom in spring, but a few species produce their pretty blooms in late summer or fall. 

  • Scillas boast small bell-shaped or starry flowers, generally dangling from thin 3-6 in. stems (7-15 cm). Their flowers are usually blue, but also available in white, pink, and purple.
  • Scillas grow from a bulb and produce a few to several grassy, basal, linear leaves.
  • Most Scilla varieties are perfect for naturalizing in the grass, with snowdrops, crocuses or daffodils with which they harmonize very well. They are particularly valuable for planting in woodland walks, beneath shrubs and trees or in rock gardens. Plant them where their delicate beauty can be appreciated!
  • Scillas grow from 2 in. to 2 ft. tall (5-60 cm).
  • Plant your Scilla bulbs in fall in a full sun or part shade area in average, well-drained soil, 3-4 in. deep (7-10 cm). For best effect, plant them in drifts of 20-50 bulbs.
  • Give your Scilla bulbs moisture during the growing seasons if it is very dry, but otherwise, leave them alone.
  • Easy to grow and low care, most Scilla species are great naturalizers. They multiply and come back year after year, forming large showy colonies and turning the landscape into a sea of blue.
  • Scillas deter the hungriest critters, including deer and rabbit.
  • Propagate by digging and dividing the clumps and/or separating the offsets and seedlings as the foliage dies back.

Guide Information

Hardiness 2 – 10

Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Plant Family Chionodoxa – Glory of the Snow, Hyacinthoides – Bluebells, Scilla – Squills
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Early,Mid,Late)Summer (Late)FallWinter
Water Needs Average
Maintenance Low
Soil Type Chalk, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit
Landscaping Ideas Beds and Borders, Edging, Patio and Containers, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Coastal Garden, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden