Squills

SQUILLS

To add to our native squills (see native bulb section), here is a collection of other members of the tribe, which have been grown and naturalised in British gardens for centuries.

Scilla siberica This reliable squill flowers early in spring, and will grow almost anywhere provided the bulbs do not get too hot and dry in the summer. The flowers are deep blue and bell-shaped, with five on a flowering stem. A most attractive sight planted in drifts. Price 20 / £3 100 / 12.50

Scilla siberica alba The white form of the Siberian squill, and an equally good naturaliser, these look especially good mixed in sparingly with the blue ones. Price 10 / £3 50 / £9.50

Scilla bifolia Alpine Squill. Flowering in early spring, this is good for naturalising under shrubs, or among perennials like Hellebores. Only 4" high, each bulb produces two leaves and a spike of vivid starry blue-violet flowers. Price 10 / £3.00 50 / £9.50

Scilla bithynica Turkish Squill Originally coming from the cool shores of the Black Sea, this squill naturalises extremely well here, enjoying most woodland conditions and some moisture. Of a similar size to our bluebell, it spreads in the same way to provide a carpet of blue but a month earlier. Although a most useful and attractive plant it is currently ignored by most bulb producers.AGM Limited stocks. Price 5/4.50 10 /£8.50

Scilla lilio-hyacinthus Pyrenean Squill. From the woods and damp places on the slopes of the Pyrenees this has scaly, lily- like bulbs. Planted in open woodland its wide shiny foliage emerges as the snowdrops flower, before presenting its squill flowers in late April. Price £3 each

Scilla litardieri This squill from the west Balkans produces dense heads of blue flowers in early summer well after the main flush of spring bulbs. It will clump up in well drained open spots. Price 10/£3 50/£9.50

Puschkinia scilloides Known as Striped Squill, this is another native of the mountains of the Middle East. A beautiful, early spring bulb, it has very pale blue flowers each with a dark blue stripe. It grows easily planted in well-drained soil in partial shade or sun. Price 20 / £3 100 / £9.50

Hyacinthoides italica Italian Squill, although in the same genus as our Bluebell, this has very different looking, and charming, racemes of star like blue flowers in April. Unlike the Spanish Bluebell it never crosses with our native Hyacinthoides. It is again a woodland plant, but will do well in more open sites. Price 5/£9.50

CHIONODOXAS

Chionodoxas are often called Glory of the Snow, and are native to the mountains of Anatolia where they flower as the snow recedes. Chionodoxas are excellent for naturalising, where they can provide another drift of blue in the early spring well before the bluebells come in. Particularly under deciduous trees and shrubs.

Chionodoxa forbesii The most common species found in gardens. This species has lavender blue star shaped flowers with large white centres in March-April. Price 20/£3 100/£8.50

Chionodoxa sardensis This has lavender blue flowers with only a hint of a white centre. (March) Also a native of Asia Minor in the woods above the Meander rivers, it is sometimes called Lesser Glory of the Snow although equally as fine as its cousins, and a good naturaliser. Price 20 / £3.50 100/£12.50

GRAPE HYACINTHS (in addition to Muscari neglectum in the Native Bulb section)

Muscari armenaicum This Grape Hyacinth is native from the Balkans to the Caucasus and is particularly easy to grow in well-drained soils here. It bears a spike of small, densely packed fragrant flowers, each with a white rim, April/May.AGM Price 20 / £3.50 100 / £10.50

Muscari armenaicum Valerie Finis Named after the renowned plants woman, this has racemes of bell shaped flowers in an attractive and unusual shade of sky blue. Price 10 / £3 50 / £9.50

Muscari botroides alba Native to northern and central Europe, this is a pure white Grape Hyacinth, making a good contrast to the blue ones, and is just as easy to grow in any soil. Flowering in April. Price 10/£3 50/£9.50

Muscari latifolium. This grape hyacinth from the pinewoods of the Black Sea coast starts growing in early spring with a single glossy leaf encicling the emerging flower spike.Blooming in April and May with two toned blue flowers, this grows easily in well drained soil.AGM Price20/£3 100/£9.50

FUMITORY
Corydalis solida Spring Fumitoryis a common European tuberous plant and has been grown in Britain for centuries, naturalised under trees and shrubs. It produces mounds of low growing, attractively divided foliage and long spurred, pink-purple flowers in early spring, dying back in summer. Price 10/£3.50 50/£13.50

Corydalis solida Rainbow. This is attractive mixture produces flowers in a colour range from raspberry red to lilac pink, with plenty of white ones for contrast. Price 10 / £6.50
Corydalis solida ssp incisa This is a hybrid of unknown origin. It is even more vigorous and its reddish purple flowers carry on for weeks. AGM Price 10/£3.50 50 / £13.50

Corydalis cava One common name Hollowroot refers to the curiously hollow tuber of this old introduction from Europe. It has long been naturalised in woods and hedges where it forms clumps of tubular pink flowers in March, with attractively divided foliage. One or two tubers planted in shade provide lots of interest. Price £2.50 each

ANEMONE (in addition to Anemone nemorosa in the Native Bulb section)
Anemone blanda This relative of our own Windflower originates in the E. Mediterranean, but can be equally at home here. It can be naturalised in areas under trees and shrubs and does very well in grass. Long flowering, many petalled blue or white flowers are superb when they arrive in April. AGM

Price Assorted Blue shades 20 /£3 100 /£12.50 White 10 /£2.50 50 /£8.50

Mixed (approx 75% Blue 25% White) 20/£3 100 /£12.50

Anemone ranunculoides Native to Europe to the far North, this has the same creeping twig like rhizomes as our Windflower, A.nemorosa, but has bright yellow flowers. Enjoying the same woodland habitat it also flowers in April with similarly dissected foliage.AGM Price 10 rhizomes / £4.50 20/£8.50

Anemone appenina This blue flowered European Anemone with light feathery foliage is good at settling into deciduous shade, and has been noted as a naturalised immigrant here for centuries. April flowering. Price 5/ £12.50

Anemone x lipsiensis Pallida The creamy yellow flowers of this Wood anemone are gorgeous in dappled shade. This is a vigorous form of the cross between A.ranunculoides above and the native A.nemorosa.AGM Price 5/ £9.50

MONK'S HOOD As well as our native Monkshood (see Native Bulbs page) There are a range of Aconitums that naturalise well here. All these are delivered in late autumn.

Aconitum napellus subsp vulgare Albidum The ice white flowers of this form of Monks Hood are slightly less sinister than the blue kind and are particularly useful for brightening a shady corner. The same height and flowering time in June as the blue Monks Hood it enjoys the same moist soil and partial shade. Price 5 /£8.50

Aconitum carmichaelii Arendsii From remote Kamchatka, this extends the flowering season into autumn with its spikes of rich blue flowers. It prefers better drained conditions in the open. Price 5/£8.50
Aconitum henryi Sparks Variety This form of the species from W China has a more branching habit with intense indigo blue flowers in late summer and establishes best in the open. Price 5/£8.50

Aconitum x cammarum Bicolor This may be the original hybrid between A varigatum and A.napellus. This handsome plant has wide branching stems in July with blue and white "hoods" Price 5/£8.50

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