Asparagaceae
Striped Squill (Puschkinia scilloides)
Puschkinia scilloides
An easy bulb for cold-winter climates (USDA 4-8): plant in autumn, 7-10 cm deep, in fertile, well-drained soil in sun or part shade. Keep it moist while it grows and flowers, and fairly dry in summer dormancy. Let the leaves die back on their own before cutting. It has no known pests or diseases and deer leave it alone. It won't flower in warm climates without winter chill.
Every 7 days
Bright indirect
° - °C
% - %
Categories
What is Striped squill?
Striped squill (Puschkinia scilloides) is a easy-care plant from the Asparagaceae family. Puschkinia scilloides is a small bulb in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to the Caucasus, Turkey, northern Iran and Lebanon, where it grows in mountain meadows and on stony slopes up to 3,000 m. In late winter or early spring each bulb sends up two green, strap-shaped leaves and a 10-20...
Striped squill grows up to 20cm, spread of 15cm, watering every 7 days. It is not suitable for indoor environments and safe for pets.
Unlike many tropical plants, Striped squill tolerates watering mistakes. Best for beginners. Unlike many popular species, Striped squill is safe to keep around pets.
How to Care for Striped squill?
TLDR: Striped squill needs Bright indirect, watering every 7 days, and temperatures between 15-30°C with 40-70% humidity.
How Often Should You Water Striped squill?
Water about once a week if it doesn't rain, from when the leaves emerge until flowering ends. Once the leaves yellow, stop: it tolerates summer drought and prefers dry soil while the bulb ripens. Wet soil during dormancy rots the bulbs.
How Much Light Does Striped squill Need?
Full sun to part shade (2-6 hours of direct sun). It does well under deciduous trees, which let sun through in late winter when it blooms.
What Is the Best Soil for Striped squill?
Fertile, loose, well-drained loam or sandy soil rich in organic matter, moist in spring and drier in summer.
What Pot Should You Use for Striped squill?
For containers, use a 15-20 cm clay pot with good drainage, plant several bulbs together and keep the pot outdoors in winter so it gets the chill it needs.
Care Schedule
Fertilize
Every 365 days
What Is Striped squill and Where Does It Come From?
Puschkinia scilloides is a small bulb in the asparagus family (Asparagaceae), native to the Caucasus, Turkey, northern Iran and Lebanon, where it grows in mountain meadows and on stony slopes up to 3,000 m. In late winter or early spring each bulb sends up two green, strap-shaped leaves and a 10-20 cm stalk with a loose cluster of fragrant, star-shaped flowers, very pale blue to white, each petal marked with a blue central stripe (some forms are pure white). After flowering the leaves yellow and the plant rests underground through summer. Over time it spreads by bulb offsets and self-seeding into carpets. The genus honours the Russian botanist Apollo Mussin-Pushkin.
How to Propagate Striped squill?
Bulb division
Bulbs can stay undisturbed for years; divide only when clumps get crowded and flower less.
- 1 Wait until the leaves yellow in early summer
- 2 Lift the clump carefully
- 3 Separate the offsets from the mother bulb
- 4 Replant 7-10 cm deep and 7-8 cm apart, or store dry and replant in autumn
Materials needed:
Seeds
In the garden it self-seeds; leave the flower stalks until the seed drops if you want it to spread.
- 1 Let the seed pods ripen on the plant
- 2 Sow fresh seed in a pot of light mix
- 3 Leave the pot outdoors to go through winter cold
- 4 Move the young bulbs after one or two years
Materials needed:
How Big Does Striped squill Grow?
TLDR: Striped squill can reach up to 20cm tall with Medium growth rate.
Max height
20cm
Spread
15cm
Foliage
Deciduous
Plant Uses
Ornamental
Great for decoration
Is your plant showing symptoms?
Click on the symptom to discover possible causes:
Fun Facts
The genus is named after the Russian botanist Apollo Mussin-Pushkin, who collected plants in the Caucasus
In the wild it grows in mountain meadows up to 3,000 m and flowers as soon as the snow melts
Each petal carries a thin blue stripe, as if painted by hand
Frequently asked questions
When should I plant striped squill bulbs?
Can I cut the leaves after flowering?
Is striped squill toxic to cats and dogs?
Will it flower in a warm climate?
Compare with similar plants
| Attribute | Difficulty | Light | Watering | Pet Safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Maple | Easy | Bright indirect | 14d | ✓ |
| Iberian Houseleek | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Silver Birch | Easy | Direct sun | 14d | ✓ |
| Common Blanketflower | Easy | Direct sun | 10d | ✓ |
