Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tubergeniana'

Scilla mischtschenkoana 'Tubergeniana' is a little-known Scilla that deserves to be planted more in our rock gardens, for its precious pale porcelain blue flowers, so eager to appear in late winter. This small bulbous plant develops floral and compact spikes often before the emergence of its ribbon-like foliage, which disappears in summer. Easy to grow in the sun in any well-drained soil, even dry in summer, it naturalizes easily in the company of other small spring bulbs.

Scilla mischtschenkoana, from the Asparagaceae family, is a plant native to the southern Caucasus, southern Russia, and northern Iran, regions governed by rather cold winters and often very dry summers. The 'Tubergeniana' cultivar, very similar to this wild species, is said to be more cold-resistant or taller according to some sources. Both have been awarded by the Royal Horticultural Society in England. The plant, a perennial, grows from a small bulb. Flowering occurs in February-March, when the foliage just emerges from the ground. A floral stem rises from the ground up to 15cm (6in), bearing 2 to 5 campanulate flowers with 6 petals, 2cm (1in) in diameter, with an iridescent texture. Each petal, of varying white-blue color, is crossed by a more intense blue central line. This flowering is slightly fragrant. The foliage then unfolds, showing 2-3 leaves per bulb. The leaves are ribbon-like, thick and narrow, 10-15cm (4-6in) long, glossy and dark green. The foliage will more or less disappear in summer as the plant enters dormancy. This scilla spreads by producing bulblets, but also by sowing.

With their beautiful porcelain blue flowers, 'Tubergeniana' Scillas arrive just at the end of the snowdrop flowering and just before Siberian squills. They form beautiful carpets of a very soft blue that can be naturalized under deciduous trees, in a lightly trodden and lightly mowed short grass meadow, along a path or in a sunny rock garden to be able to contemplate them at leisure from the end of winter. Associate them with other small bulbs that won't suffocate them: botanical crocuses, reticulated irises, blanda anemones, Cyclamen coum, Colchicums, botanical tulips...

Sold in packs of 15 bulbs, size 7.