Buy Scilla peruviana

Also Known As

CUBAN LILY
Giant Scilla
Giant Squill

Plant type

perennial, bulb / corm / tuber

size

H: 6"-12"
W: 6"-12"

planting zones

7a-10b

3"x3"x5" tall pot | $15

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Fewer than 1 at Secret Garden Growers

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Scilla peruviana plant details

Scilla peruviana is a broadleaf deciduous perennial bulb / corm / tuber with green foliage. In spring blue and purple flowers emerge. Features grassy texture. Attracts bees making it an excellent addition to pollinator gardens. Grows well with sun - dappled shade and even moisture - regular water. Drought tolerant once established. Prefers to be dry in summer, dry when dormant. Does well in average, gritty, rich and well-drained soil. A good option if you're seeking something heat tolerant and verticillium wilt resistant.

CHARACTERISTICS OF Scilla peruviana

Plant type: perennial bulb / corm / tuber
Plant family: asparagaceae
Foliage: deciduous green
Mature size: 6 IN - 12 IN - wide, 6 IN - 12 IN - tall
Flowers: blue and purple blooms in spring
Uses: border plant, rock garden, showy, woodland garden

GROWING CONDITIONS for Scilla peruviana

USDA Zones: 7a - 10b
Sun exposure: sun - dappled shade
Watering frequency: even moisture - regular
Resistant to: deer, heat and verticillium wilt
Soil needs: average, gritty, rich and well-drained

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Nursery contributed plant descriptions

Portuguese squill, Scilla peruviana, is a beautiful and intriguing bulb hardy in mild climates or easy to grow in a protected pot in colder climates. It has a rosette of strap-like leaves that give rise to an exotic dome of small, star-like, royal blue to purple-blue flowers. It is native to the Iberian peninsula and northwest Africa, not Peru. Clusius, in naming this species, apparently misunderstood that the bulb came from a ship named "Peru" and not the South American country.

By: Phoenix Perennials and Specialty Plants Ltd.

(CUBAN LILY) An interesting and unusual bulbous perennial from Portugal & Spain (I dunno why they call it Cuban!) – only 8-12” tall and blooming in spring…violet blue star florets clustered on a dome structure are very striking! Easy to grow in sun to light shade…seems happiest is humusy, loose soils. Increases each year. Z8 3" tall pots

By: Secret Garden Growers

For those gardening in zones 7-10 the recently introduced Caribbean Jewels are gardening must-haves, with conical flowers in a vibrant sapphire blue. Each bloom is comprised of 50-80 six-petaled starry flowers with brightly contrasting gold anthers. Long lasting and framed by graceful strappy foliage, flower stems are more numerous as the plant matures.

By: Leafari

Early spring flower heads are a mass of cobalt blue florets from blue-black buds on 12" stems. A rosette of glossy, dark green leaves surrounds the often single bloom.To debunk a misconception, it comes not from Peru but from the Mediterranean. It was brought to England on a ship called The Peru in the 17th century leading Linnaeus to misunderstand and, subsequently misname it. It needs a summertime rest during dormancy -- hot and dry is its preference, ensuring spring bloom.Minimum temperature: 0 °F

By: Dancing Oaks Nursery

Despite the name (Lineaus thought it came from Peru) it's not from Peru but the Mediterranean regions, 20-100 starry violet blue flowers on foot high stems.

By: Arrowhead Alpines

A Mediterranean bulb named for a South American country, botanists of the time having named it for The Peru, the ship that first brought bulbs to England. However it was named, this large flowered scilla is a huge hit in the early spring garden with 6-12" flower stalks of azure blue flowers resembling a hyacinth. Summer dormant with rosettes of strappy leaves emerging in fall. Full sun and well-drained soil. Drought tolerant though remains evergreen with summer water. Frost hardy to 0 °F, USDA zone 7.