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Growing Scilla peruviana
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Scilla peruviana - Growing Guide

Growing Scilla peruviana

These have been growing away in expanding evergreen clumps at Caerhays both in a shady border and in shady spots within the woodland garden. With us they seem virtually evergreen once established but, in pots, in the nursery they seem to die back more or less to ground level in the first year after the bulbs have been planted in pots.

These bulbs originate from the southwest Mediterranean. In April or early May the bulbs throw up 10-12in flower spikes consisting of scores of star shaped purplish-blue flowers.

Newly purchased bulbs are best planted in the autumn at a depth of about 3in. S. peruviana does produce offset bulbs which you can separate off and move elsewhere but this is a very slow process and it is therefore advisable to purchase a few bulbs initially to create a decent clump from the outset.