Siberian squill

Scilla siberica

Small bulb with nodding deep blue bell flowers in earliest spring. One of the most cold-hardy spring bulbs — flowers reliably where temperatures regularly drop below -30 °C.

Hardiness ratings

Siberian squill hardiness across the four zone systems
SystemRatingTemperature rangeHow to read it
USDA hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −45.6 °C to −6.7 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
RHS hardiness rating H7 down to −20 °C Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance
Canadian plant hardiness zone Zone 2–8 −40 °C to −1 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone
Australian (ANBG) zone Zone 1–4 −15 °C to 5 °C Plant tolerates down to this zone

Growing notes

  • Flowers March–April in much of the Northern Hemisphere — one of the very first signs of spring in cold-climate gardens
  • Extremely cold hardy — succeeds in continental and subarctic gardens where most spring bulbs fail
  • Naturalises freely by seed in short grass and under deciduous trees
  • Needs winter chilling

Pet caution: Siberian squill is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.

Categories

Related plants

Cross-check Siberian squill against your zones

Reference

Siberian squill on Wikipedia