Drimia maritima
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Urginea maritima
- Phonetic Spelling
- Da-RY-mee-a ma-RIT-iy-muh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Red Squill is a large bulb from the Mediterranean coastal areas. The basal leaves are strap-like and fleshy and appear in the winter. The flowers appear as tall spikes of white flowers in late summer. It needs protection below 28F and will need to be brought indoors in colder climates.
Plant in the garden with only the top inch of the bulb above ground level and spaced 18-24 inch apart to allow individual clumps to spread. The soil needs to be well-drained, sandy soils being best, but can be grown in heavier soils if on a slope.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Drimia
- Species:
- maritima
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The red bulb (variety rubra) contains the rat poison "scilliroside", while the white bulb is used as a cardiotonic.
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Stalks of white flowers sometimes tinged with purple-red striations on the sepals. Blooms late summer into autumn.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are 12-18 inches long by 4 inches wide and are blue-green glaucus strap-shaped leaves that emerge in late fall and last into the following summer.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
