Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Bulb Squill By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on January 18, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Squill Overview Description Squill announces a new garden season with bursts of dark green grasslike foliage. The leaves seem to emerge overnight in early spring. The tufts of foliage are quickly followed by arching flower stalks that support one to three nodding blue or white flowers. These tiny blossoms decorate the garden for two to three weeks and, when planted in large masses, they can be enjoyed from a distance. A welcome early-season nectar source for bees and insects, squill—also called Siberian squill—attracts winged visitors with its sweet fragrance. Genus Name Scilla sibirica Common Name Squill Plant Type Bulb Light Part Sun, Sun Height 6 to 6 inches Width null to 3 inches Flower Color Blue, White Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Spring Bloom Special Features Cut Flowers, Fragrance, Low Maintenance Zones 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 Propagation Division Problem Solvers Deer Resistant Planting Squill Wonderful bulbs for naturalizing, squill are often planted in lawn grass or meadows where they bejewel the turf in early spring. Squill spread slowly by seeds and bulb offshoots to form a carpet of color. Care for a squill planting by delaying the first mowing of the season until the foliage begins to turn yellow and wither. After plants bloom the foliage directs energy into the bulb for the following season; it's important to leave the foliage standing until it begins to show signs of dormancy. For the first mowing, set the mowing height to at least 4 inches to limit the damage to squill leaves that have not yet reached dormancy. Find out everything you need to know about bulbs. Squill Care Squill grows well in full sun or part shade and well-drained soil. Squill thrive in the dappled shade of deciduous trees and shrubs and around the base of perennials because they complete their life cycle before the larger plants leaf out and limit their sunlight. Squill, like most spring bulbs, are planted in fall as soon as the soil cools. Plant squill bulbs with the pointed growing tip facing upward. Plant bulbs 2 to 4 inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart. Water bulbs after planting and again in late fall. In the garden, squill is most eye-pleasing when planted in drifts of no fewer than 100 bulbs—aim for 20 bulbs per square foot. Plant bulbs along walkways, interspersed with perennials, and in herb or rock gardens. Deer and rodents rarely eat squill. More Varieties of Squill Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit