Scilla Bifolia

Scilla Bifolia - Not so well known as S. sibirica, but quite as welcome. In the very dawn of spring, and indeed often in winter, this bears rich masses of dark blue flowers, and forms handsome tufts. The flowers are four to six on a spike, and the plant varies from 6 to 10 inches high, according to the soil and warmth and shelter of the position. It thrives in almost any position in ordinary garden soil, the lighter the better, but must be left to seed and increase as it likes. Although earlier than S. sibirica, it does not so well withstand cold rains and storms, and therefore some tufts of it should be placed in warm sunny spots of the rock garden or sheltered border. S. and C. Europe. Of all Scillas, S. bifolia is the most variable, and most of the garden forms are better than the type. S. Praecox is a stronger grower, the flowers larger, more abundant, and earlier. In purpureo-coerulea the ovary and base of the segments are rosy-purple, gradually merging into blue, which becomes intense towards the tips, harmonising with the black and gold-banded anthers. It is a free flowerer, and the blooms individually are nearly as large as a shilling. In the Taurian variety, S. b. taurica, the flowers are much larger than in S. bifolia, and, with the exception of the white base, greatly resemble those of some of the forms of Chiondoxa Lucilioe. They vary from ten to twenty on each scape, and the leaves are larger and broader than those of S. bifolia. The white form of S. b. taurica is very scarce. S. b. alba, a pretty ivory-white form, has flowers not larger than those of the type. S. b. rosea is a new garden form with deep rosy flowers, and carnea a paler variation.

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