Siberian Squills From Seed
by Kathy Purdy on March 28, 2010
Can you see the seedlings? They have brown seed coats on their tips. Click on image to enlarge.
So often we’re told that a certain bulb multiplies by seed, but how often do you see it in action? In the photo above, the Siberian squill seedlings look almost like grass, but many of them still have the brown seed coat on their tips. Also, they are not flat like grass blades, but round in cross-section. So if you’re weeding around small bulbs, look carefully before you pull any “grass.”
Tagged as:
seeds,
squills
Kathy Purdy discovered the joys of writing in fourth grade, when she started corresponding with a former classmate. She's been writing letters ever since, first on looseleaf, then electronically, and now as weblog entries. That makes you, the blog reader, her pen pal. Her first independent (though frustrating) attempts at gardening were made in high school, though the gardening bug didn't bite hard until her mid-thirties, when she found herself mistress of a rural home on 15 acres. •
USDA Hardiness Zone:4 • AHS Heat Zone: 3 • Location: rural;
Southern Tier of NY • Geographic type: foothills of Appalachian
Mountains • Soil Type: acid clay • Experience level:
intermediate
• Particular interests: colchicums, narcissus, cottage gardening, NY
native plants, gardening with/for children
Gardening is not some sort of game by which one proves his superiority over others, nor is it a marketplace for the display of elegant things that others cannot afford. It is, on the contrary, a growing work of creation, endless in its changing elements. It is not a monument or an achievement, but a sort of traveling, a kind of pilgrimage you might say, often a bit grubby and sweaty though true pilgrims do not mind that. A garden is not a picture, but a language, which is of course the major art of life.
Henry Mitchell
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I find the squill a very invasive plant. I have to dig up the entire bed where they grow and throw out half the bulbs at least every third year. The only plant that is worse are lamb’s ears.
Where do you live and what kind of soil do you have (dry and alkaline, for example or ?). I find the garden environment can make a big difference in the invasiveness of a plant.
I have been growing these since I moved to Minnesota five years ago. Since they are growing in a border where my wife tends to pull them up, I started growing seedlings in pots as an experiment to see how old they would need to be to flower. So far, the June 2008 seedlings don’t look very close yet.
Twitter: @reddirtramblin
Those seedlings look so cute with their little brown jackets.~~Dee
.-= Dee @ Red Dirt Ramblings´s last blog ..Dear Friends and Gardeners, March 29, 2010 =-.
Twitter: @layanee1
I have never noticed the seeds still on the foliage but I have noticed a trail of squill from the bed where they were originally planted to the woods where I rake the leaves and debris out of the bed. It is nice to think the rake is spreading such blue beauty.
.-= Layanee´s last blog ..Bulbs au natural =-.
Twitter: @caffinara
As well as Scilla, growing from seed, I have Tulipa tarda growing from seed in my garden.
My scillas do this as well, although they don’t seem to multiply too much. Perhaps those darn rodents eat them.
.-= Chiot’s Run´s last blog ..The First Tomato Seedling of 2010 =-.
Twitter: @mycornerofkaty
Those are so cute! I have Freesia laxa here that spreads by both seed and bulb. They naturalize so well they’re almost weedy. Hey, that gives me an idea: I should plant them in the lawn! Thanks, Kathy, for the seed of the idea!
.-= Cindy, MCOK´s last blog ..Southern Charm =-.
Awesome photo! I have these just starting to bloom. I will have to look closely for any sprouts. I planted them because I was told they would self seed but so far they haven’t spread very far. I was hoping to have them under some trees more. Thanks for the photo of what to look for.
Twitter: @cyndycrom
Wow – it really pays to look carefully! Very pretty photo.
.-= Cyndy´s last blog ..Myrmecochory =-.
Twitter: @HelenYoest
That is interesting Kathy. Very pretty little flower. H.
Twitter: @hoosiergardener
I love quill…so colorful and once they get going, plentiful. One of my favorite minor bulbs.
.-= Hoosier Gardener´s last blog ..Take steps to prevent another attack of late blight =-.