Biorepository Data Portal

Plants 10-20(-30) cm; bulbs tunicate, ovoid, 1.5-2 cm; tunics dark purplish brown. Leaves 2-4; blade broadly linear, 10-15 × 0.5-2 cm. Scapes 1-4. Inflorescences racemose, 1-2(-5)-flowered, bracteate; bract 1-2 mm. Flowers: perianth deep blue, 12-16 × 4-6 mm; pedicel drooping, 8-12 mm, equaling or shorter than perianth. Capsules 4-6 mm. Seeds pale brown, with long white appendage, globose, 2-3 mm. 2n = 12. Flowering early to mid spring. Escaping from gardens; 0--1500 m; introduced; B.C., N.B., Ont., Que.; Ill., Ind., Ky., Mass., Mich., Mo., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., Utah, Wis.; Russia, north to 55º, Caucasia, and possibly n Iran; naturalized in c Europe. Naturalization of Scilla siberica is expected elsewhere.

Perennial herb with a bulb 10 - 20 cm tall Leaves: basal, two to four, 10 - 15 cm long, 0.5 - 2 cm wide, broadly linear. Flowers: one to three, deep blue, 12 - 16 mm long, 4 - 6 mm wide, with six distinct, spreading tepals. Tepals one-nerved. Stamens six. Fruit: a three-lobed capsule, nearly spherical, 4 - 6 mm long. Seeds pale brown, with white appendage, 2 - 3 mm long, spherical.

Similar species: No information at this time.

Flowering: late March to early May

Habitat and ecology: Introduced from Eurasia. An occasional garden escape to lawns and roadsides.

Occurence in the Chicago region: non-native

Etymology: Scilla is the Greek word for Squill. Siberica means "of or from Siberia."

Author: The Morton Arboretum