How to plant scillas peruviana

Also known as Portuguese squills, scillas peruviana bear large dome-shaped heads adorned with fifty to a hundred small lavender blue star-shaped flowers complimented by an impressive strap-like, semi-evergreen foliage lying close to the ground. Opening from a tight dark bud and flowering from the base up, these stunning bulbs are worth a place in any garden. 

Scillas peruviana should be grown in a moderately fertile sandy and well-drained soil located in full sun to light shade. Since they will not tolerate dense soils, make sure to add grit and sharp sand to aid drainage if your soil is heavy. Plant them shallowly just below the surface - covering them with no more than 2 cm of soil - and allow for 4 to 6 bulbs per square meter. Feed every couple of weeks with high potash feed; if you garden organically, liquid seaweed is ideal as it is organic and comes from a sustainable source. During the summer and once the flowers have completely died away, make sure to keep your bulbs dry. Over time, they will happily naturalise and form large clumps.

Always wear gloves when handling your bulbs since they can cause skin irritation. All parts of the scilla are poisonous to humans, dogs, cats and horses and should not be eaten. Keep away from paddocks.

Always unpack bulbs on arrival and store in a cool place until ready to plant. 

Potential problems, pests and diseases:

Scillas do not usually suffer from any serious diseases or pests problems.