Scilla bifolia is a petite spring bulb that brings early color to gardens when it's needed most, typically blooming from March through April in hardiness zones 3 to 8. This alpine squill grows just 3 to 6 inches tall, native to the lower mountain regions of central and southern Europe extending south to Turkey and Syria. Each bulb produces two distinctive linear leaves (the name bifolia means 'two leaves') and produces upright flowering stems topped with showy, star-shaped blooms. Deer and rabbits leave it alone, and it's remarkably low-maintenance once established.
Partial Sun
Moderate
3-8
6in H x 6in W
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Moderate
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Plant scilla bulbs in fall, 3 to 4 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart, and they'll reward you with reliable spring flowers year after year with virtually no fuss. The foliage naturally disappears by summer as the plant enters dormancy, making it seamless to pair with later-emerging perennials. It thrives in sandy loams and average garden soils, performs equally well in full sun or light shade, and spreads naturally into drifts when planted en masse. Best of all, crown rot is the only significant concern, and that's easily avoided with proper drainage.
Scilla is grown primarily for naturalizing, allowing gardeners to create spreading drifts of spring color that return reliably year after year. It's especially effective planted beneath deciduous trees, where it receives full sun during its bloom time in early spring before the canopy leafs out. The low stature and tidy dormancy habit make it suitable for rock gardens, borders, and anywhere early season color is desired without fussy maintenance.
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Plant bulbs in fall, positioning them 3 to 4 inches deep and 2 to 3 inches apart in well-drained soil. Bulbs may be scattered somewhat haphazardly into large drifts for natural effect. Choose a spot in full sun to light shade.
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“Scilla bifolia hails from the mountainous regions of central and southern Europe, a hardy little bulb that has naturalized across temperate gardens for generations. Its scientific name directly references its most distinctive feature: two basal leaves per bulb, a characteristic that made it easy for early botanists and gardeners to identify and propagate. The species has traveled from its native Alpine and Mediterranean haunts into gardens worldwide, valued for its dependability and the way it colonizes freely in suitable conditions, returning reliably each spring without replanting.”