Starch hyacinth Puschkinia scilloides

Striped Squill is a small, densely flowering, perennial bulb producing late winter or early spring blossoms. It is in the asparagus family and native to western Asia. In the wild, it can be found growing in alpine meadows near the snow line. The plant grows in a 4 to 6 inch clump of fragrant blue or white flowers and strap-shaped leaves. The genus name honors a Russian botanist, Mussin-Puschkin, who died in 1805. The species name refers to the resemblance of this plant to Scilla.

Striped Squill does best in moist, well-drained fertile soils in full sun to part shade. You should plant the bulbs 2 to 3 inches deep and 3 inches apart, about 15 to 20 bulbs per square inch, in Fall for blossoms the following Spring. Striped Squill tolerates summer drought, but you should keep it consistently moist during growing season.

The plant naturalizes by both self-seeding and bulb offsets, but does go dormant in late spring. Do not mow the foliage or remove the plant after bloom until the whole plant turns yellow.

Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: 

No known diseases or insect pests.