Scilla
September Seductress: Silly Scilla!
“The season of squills need not end with spring….” Elizabeth Lawrence, The Little Bulbs (43)
by Andrea Sprott
Scilla scilloides, I commonly call it “Silly Scilla.”
Identity crisis abounds with this sweet little late summer perennial bulb. I first became acquainted with it as Scilla scilloides, and in an attempt to remember both its specific name and odd bloom time, I commonly call it “Silly Scilla.” I’ve since learned it also goes by the common names of Autumn Squill, Chinese Scilla and Chinese Squill. The identity crisis really gets going when it comes to botanical nomenclature. Accepted names include Scilla scilloides, S. chinensis, and sometimes S. japonica, but taxonomists (these people are totally bored out of their gourds) now propose to place this bulb back in its original genus from the early 1800s of Barnardia. Adding to the identity headache is a slew of conflicting growing information—but don’t let all this confusion deter you from seeking out this lovely thing!
Rarely do I refer to any flowering plant as a “delicate workhorse,” but Silly Scilla deserves that association full-on. Native to rocky areas of China and Japan, this highly adaptable bulb thrives in most sites from full sun to full shade, asking only for decent drainage and a bit of moisture during the growing season. That being said, however, before I knew better, I planted it in unamended red clay in my own garden, and it still blooms happily, although has been slow to increase. In nearly every bulb’s Eden, Elizabeth Lawrence’s garden, Silly Scilla grows equally happily on a raised rock garden wall, and edging a low, partially shaded perennial bed, blooming beautifully late August through September.
Although the foliage is nothing to get excited about (glaucous green, grassy and lax), seeing it emerge in summer tells me that blooms aren’t far behind. Reminiscent of pink Liriope muscari spikes, Scilla scilloides is a virtual bee magnet. Racemes on upright stems six to twelve inches tall boast tiny pink stars, which open from bottom to top. The overall effect is inviting and quite lovely, and definitely best en masse. When provided with decent conditions, Silly Scilla reseeds well, which makes it a good “naturalizer,” but by no means is it weedy. Expect seedlings to bloom in their third or fourth year. I find the best increase is by division; small bulb offsets bloom their second year. Divide any time during the growing season, but keep divisions consistently moist until they’re established.
It is interesting to me that Scilla scilloides, hardy in zones 4-9, isn’t more widely known or grown. This small bulb certainly gives a lot and asks for little in return. Silly Scilla provides the perfect unexpected late summer breath of fresh air . . . at a time of year that is the polar opposite of when one would expect to see such a cheerful little dainty thing. We will soon be adding this to our “Legacy Plant Collection” in the Lawrence Garden at Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary, but until then, it’s available from a few mail-order sources. I recommend reputable growers like Cistus Nursery in Oregon (www.cistus.com) and Woodlanders in South Carolina (www.woodlanders.net). No matter the source or botanical nom du jour, you need some Silly Scilla. As Alabama CES Agent and Plant Collector Extraordinaire, Hayes Jackson, says, “Don’t be dumb, git you some!”
© Andrea Sprott 2011 all rights reserved
Andrea Sprott is an Extension Master Gardener Volunteer with Mecklenburg County, NC. She also works as Elizabeth Lawrence Garden Associate in the Elizabeth Lawrence Garden of Wing Haven Gardens & Bird Sanctuary, Charlotte, NC (www.winghavengardens.com).
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