Scilla

Scilla is a genus of bulb-forming perennial plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It comprises a diverse group of species native to Europe, the Mediterranean region, western Asia, and parts of Africa. Commonly known as squills, many Scilla species are valued as ornamental plants for their early spring flowers. The genus has been subject to taxonomic revisions, with some species formerly placed in Hyacinthaceae; current classifications place Scilla in Asparagaceae.

Plants grow from rounded bulbs and produce narrow, strap-shaped leaves. The flowering stalks carry loose to dense umbels of small, star-shaped flowers with six tepals. Flower colors are predominantly blue or violet, but white forms and other hues appear in some species. Bloom time is typically in early spring, though some species may flower in late winter or autumn in milder climates.

Scilla species are widely cultivated in gardens and containers for their reliable spring display. They prefer sunny to partly shaded sites with well-drained soil and good air circulation. In temperate regions they are generally hardy to cool winters. Bulbs are planted in autumn and flower in the following spring. They naturalize slowly in appropriate conditions and can spread by offsets.

Cultural care is straightforward: plant bulbs at a depth of about two to three times their height, water moderately, and avoid waterlogging. Many species are poisonous if ingested, and handling bulbs with gloves is advisable.

Notable species include Scilla siberica (Siberian squill), Scilla bifolia (two-leaf squill), and Scilla peruviana (Portuguese squill), all of which are commonly grown for garden use.