Striped Squill - Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica - Russian Snowdrops

A gorgeous addition to any garden in spring, Puschkinia are a little known spring bulb, however, it is one of the easiest to grow and is very reliable. Puschkinia libanotica, commonly known as the Striped squill, produces delicate white flowers flushed with blue, with a darker hue running up the petal spines. The straplike, bright-green foliage appears around the same time as the flowers, each upright stem carrying up to 10 blooms. This hardy bulb will naturalise and multiply like snowdrops producing a carpet of colour in March and April after the snowdrops have flowered, but before the bluebells. 

Long-lasting through March and April, these perky flowers are easy to grow and well-deserving of their RHS Award of Garden Merit. Sweetly scented and good pollinators, their cream-tinged anthers are great for attracting bees, and they also make a pretty cut flower.

Reaching a height of 15-20cm, Puschkinia libanotica is well placed in the front of beds and borders, rock and gravel gardens, and is great for under-planting trees, hedges and shrubs. Plant in drifts in grassy or woodland areas, where the bulbs will naturalise easily. They look equally stunning in containers. supplied in approx. 1 litre container.