Plants
Striped Squill
Puschkinia scilloides · Asparagaceae
The striped squill is one of the most delicate spring bloomers of all: porcelain-blue starlets with a fine darker stripe on every petal, barely fifteen centimetres tall. It flowers as early as March, naturalises willingly and returns in greater numbers every year. We stock it as pre-forced pot plants in spring and as bulbs in autumn.
- Light
- Sunny to lightly part-shaded, ideally under deciduous shrubs.
- Watering
- Water lightly in spring only during dry spells; keep dry in summer.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Puschkinia scilloides
Botanically the striped squill sits between squill (Scilla) and glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa), with which it is often confused. Its most reliable identifying mark is the darker blue midrib stripe on the otherwise very pale petals — hence the English name striped squill. The variety usually offered is Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica, plus the pure white cultivar ‚Alba‘.
Planting happens in autumn, from September to November, about five centimetres deep and in loose groups of at least ten to twenty bulbs. Planted singly, the small flower gets lost visually; it only develops its effect in troops or as a blue carpet under shrubs.
The ideal spot is sunny to lightly part-shaded, for instance under deciduous shrubs where it is still bright at flowering time. The striped squill makes few demands of the soil as long as it drains well — only permanently wet positions will not do.
Its greatest talent is naturalising: through offset bulbs and self-seeding it forms ever denser colonies in lawns, under fruit trees or in rock gardens over the years. The only requirement is to let the foliage die back completely after flowering and to mow the area only from about the end of May.
A typical mistake is well-meant care: the striped squill needs neither fertiliser nor summer watering — during its summer rest the bulb wants to lie warm and rather dry. Simply leave it alone and it will delight you in the same spot for decades, happily alongside daffodils, crocuses and early horned violets.
Is Striped Squill toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
Like its relatives in the squill group, the striped squill contains mildly irritating compounds, mainly in the bulb. Ingestion can cause gastrointestinal upset — do not leave bulbs lying around and keep them away from children and pets.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion: nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea, usually mild and short-lived.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Plant the bulbs in autumn about five centimetres deep and in groups of at least ten.
- 02Choose a sunny to lightly part-shaded spot with free-draining soil.
- 03Let the foliage die back completely after flowering — do not cut it off and do not mow.
- 04Neither water nor feed in summer; the bulb likes to rest warm and dry.
- 05Leave established colonies alone and the striped squill will naturalise more densely each year.
- 06Keep pre-forced pots cool in spring and the flowers will last noticeably longer.
Frequently asked
- When does the striped squill flower?
- Depending on the weather, from early March into April, often at the same time as crocuses and early daffodils. In mild Rhineland winters flowering can begin as early as late February. The display lasts about two to three weeks.
- What is the difference between striped squill, scilla and glory-of-the-snow?
- All three are closely related, blue-flowering spring bulbs. The striped squill is recognised by its very pale porcelain blue with a darker midrib stripe on each petal, scilla flowers a stronger blue with nodding bells, and glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa) has upright flowers with a white centre.
- Does the striped squill naturalise in lawns?
- Yes, very reliably. Through offset bulbs and self-seeding the colonies become denser every year. The only rule is to mow the lawn once the foliage has yellowed in May — otherwise the bulb lacks the energy for the following year.
- Is the striped squill toxic to pets?
- It is considered mildly toxic, especially the bulb. For cats and dogs that means chewing can cause gastrointestinal upset, but life-threatening poisoning is not expected. Still store bulbs safely and supervise fresh plantings.