Marde's Blog

Giant Scilla

by | Mar 23, 2012 | Other Bulbs for Warm Climates | 0 comments

The Giant Scilla is the largest bulb in the world. Its lush leaves appear in the fall and die back during winter. In the spring, tall stems emerge, reaching up to five feet, resembling the foxtail lily. A smaller version, the Delicate Scilla, grows to three feet. Both varieties look similar in the garden. The largest scilla bulbs are as big as a soccer ball, while the smaller ones are the size of a grapefruit.

In the first year, after the foliage dies back in summer, the flower stems emerge. The florets bloom from the bottom up, similar to foxtail lilies. When in bloom, the bulbs appear exposed, much like Naked Ladies, with no foliage.

giant Scilla vertical

When in bloom, the bulbs look like naked ladies with part of the bulb visible and no foliage.

Planting the Giant Scilla and the Delicate Scilla:

  • Prepare the soil with lots of loose material and add sand if the soil is heavy. I used an old compost pile and added coarse builders sand in order to maximize drainage. These desert adapted bulbs cannot sit in wet ground.
  • Part of the bulb should be exposed after planting and these even rose up a little more as they developed roots. You can see this in the first photograph. Its roots spread out over a good distance and so are not really useful in pots (plus they could be damaged by frost more easily).

Giant Scilla New Growth

The second year shows even more foliage, undamaged by frost. However, the aloe planted nearby looks a bit stressed. These bulbs thrive in well-drained soil and are not suited for pots.

Recent Post …

Preparing Vegetable Beds

Preparing Vegetable Beds: Your Guide to a Flourishing Garden As the gardening season approaches, many of us are eager to start planting...

Round Parisian Carrot – Prized by Gourmets – 900 Seeds

The round Parisian carrot is a little round carrot that is a nineteenth-century French heirloom! This round Parisian carrot variety is an early orange-red carrot that grows almost more like the shape of a large radish. The growth of the round Parisian carrot excels in clay or rocky soil where other carrots have problems developing properly owing to longer tap roots.

Saffron is Easy to Grow

growing saffron is easy and can be done in the backyard

Tulip and Hyacinth Planting Season – What a Variety of Colors!

Tulip and Hyacinth planting season runs from October through the following March, and depending on your location, you can plant them...

Tulip and Hyacinths Bulbs Can Be Planted Now!

Plant tulip and hyacinth bulbs based on your climate and zone. Ideally, plant them in the fall, from late September to early December. In...

Hyacinth Colors Have Expanded

Hyacinth Colors Have Expanded from just blue, pink, white, and yellow. Discover the vibrant palette of hyacinth colors with which to work....

Planting Creeping Thyme Seeds

Creeping thyme seeds are a fantastic choice for gardeners looking to establish a versatile and attractive ground cover. It is known for...

Tulips will be Ready to Plant in December

Tulips ready for December planting! I have quantities of less than 100 of most of the tulips I sell. They are in the walk in refrigerator...

Planting Saffron Crocus

Saffron Crocus is a bulb that produces the stamens that, when cut and harvested, produce the most expensive spice in the world, Saffron....

White Amaryllis Belladonna

White Amaryllis Belladonna adds stunning beauty to the growing list of warm climate bulbs. This large bulb produces trumpet-shaped flowers...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *