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Siberian Squill

Siberian Squill

Othocallis siberica

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How common: Very common

Alien species

Siberian squill is a small, early-spring bulb with bright blue, nodding flowers. It is widely planted and often spreads from gardens into parks and grassy places, forming blue carpets. Native to western Asia and eastern Europe, it is now found in many temperate regions.

Did you know?

  • It often blooms so early that patches of snow may still be on the ground.
  • It spreads both by seed and by making new bulbs underground.

About the species

Identification

Small spring bulb, about 15–25 cm tall. Three to five narrow, glossy leaves rise from the base, about 1–1.5 cm wide. A slender, shiny stalk carries a loose cluster of 2–5 short-stalked, hanging flowers. Each flower has six pointed, petal-like parts; colour bright to deep blue, sometimes white. The blue pollen sacs stand out in the centre. Later it forms small round seed pods. Key clue: flowers nod; similar garden bulbs like glory-of-the-snow and striped squill have starry, upward-facing flowers. Flowers in Finland from April to June.

Plant group

Herbaceous plants

Habitat

meadow, yards and roadsides

Flowering

Apr–Jun

About the habitat

Grows in parks, gardens, lawns and along paths, and can move into light woods and scrub. In its native range it occurs in open woods and thickets on lower slopes. Established in southern Finland; common in parks and semi-natural woods, often as a garden escape.

Sources

Photo: Holly Hodges, CC BY 4.0 https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/6133364127

Text: Pinkka: Laaja maatalouslajintuntemus 4 op - Koppisiemeniset, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39984

Text: Pinkka: BIO-513 Syventävä putkilokasvituntemus - Malus-Platanthera, CC BY 4.0 https://laji.fi/taxon/MX.39984

Text: Wikipedia (Finnish), CC BY-SA 4.0 https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id%C3%A4nsinililja

See also