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| Category: Bulb/Tuber/Rhizome etc. |
| Family: Hyacinthaceae (~Amaryllidaceae) |
| Origin: Mediterranean (Europe) |
| Flower Color: Blue Violet |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Synonyms: [Oncostema peruviana] |
| Height: <1 foot |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 0-10° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Scilla peruviana (Giant Scilla) - A beautiful bulb with short dark green strap-shaped leaves that emerge in the fall to form tight rosettes to 18 inches across. In mid spring, from the center of the rosette, emerges one or occasionally several 6-12" tall stalks bearing densely packed heads of deep blue colored flowers that last for a several weeks. A very easy plant to grow if given good drainage and a fairly lean soil. Given these conditions it can be irrigated though the dry season and be nearly evergreen or can be grown with little supplemental irrigation in mediterranean climate regions where it sprouts after the first rain in the fall, blooms in spring then goes dormant over summer. Hardy to 5° F. The name for the genus is the Greek name for Sea Squill (Urginea maritima) and the origin of this plant's specific epithet is an interesting story: Scilla peruviana is native from southwestern Europe to western Africa. Plants were collected in Spain in the 17th century and shipped to England on a ship named "The Peru" but when later naming the plant Linnaeus thought the plant originated in the South American country of Peru and named the plant for its supposed origin. It has also garnered many common names that further confuse the gardener such as Hyacinth of Peru, Peruvian Lily and Star of Peru and names such as Caribbean Lily and Cuban Lily because this plant has naturalized in these areas. Recent DNA sequencing studies have concluded that many of the plants originally placed in the genus Scilla likely have different evolutionary origins. In the reorganization of the genus, several new or resurrected genera names have been proposed with this species being renamed Oncostema peruviana. This reorganization has not been widely accepted yet and we retain use of the original name until such time as this name becomes more widely accepted. For morne information on the renaming if Scilla species see Julian Slade's posting on the Pacific Bulb Society Scilla Page. Scilla peruviana is known to contain a glycoside similar to Digitalis and is considered poisonous if ingested.
This information about Scilla peruviana displayed is based on research conducted in our library and from reliable online resources. We will also note observations that we have made about it as it grows in the gardens in our nursery and those elsewhere, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments we receive from others, and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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