Sea Squill Drimia maritima
Other 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
-
Sea squill is a large bulb in the asparagus family native to the Mediterranean coastal areas of southern Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa. The word Drimia in Greek means “acrid” or “pungent”, due to the irritating sap produced and maritima means by the sea. While in bloom it can reach 4-7 feet tall.
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 and are pollinated by both wind and insects. The large bulbs can reach 8 inches across. 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 inches 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. They prefer full sun to partial shade.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lone Ranger'
Bulb does not split to form additional bulbs
- 'Lone Ranger'
- 'Lone Ranger'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Lone Ranger'
Bulb does not split to form additional bulbs
- 'Lone Ranger'
- 'Lone Ranger'
- Tags:
-
-
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
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 7 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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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
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Follicle
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Follicles open when ripe, each containing one smooth, polished, brown seed
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-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Stalks of white flowers are sometimes tinged with purple-red striations on the sepals. They are star-shaped with 6 petals. Blooms late summer into autumn. Some varieties have redish flowers.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- 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 in the southwest USA.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- Tall leafless green stem
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-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
