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Scilla bithynica is a vigorous small species from the Turkish shores of the Black Sea. Plants of the World online says:
"The native range of this species is E. Bulgaria to N. Türkiye. It is a bulbous geophyte and grows primarily in the temperate biome." I was given three pots of bulbs and planted them in the hellebore border in the cautious hope that it would spread into a low carpet of sparkling blue flowers, emphasising the hellebore flowers and surviving the stresses of growing among dense bluebells. Janis Ruksans says in his 2018 catalogue: "This is some 15-20cm tall species with two to four leaves at ground level and a dendely packed spike of horizontal, only slightly pendand starry flowers in bright mid blue. Each bloom is sone 1cm across and is held on a short pedicel just clear of the stem. A native of woodlands, this is happy in similar conditions of light shade and a humus rich soil and it is reputed to naturalise in time. Easily grown but not a common plant and very rarely offered." So far it has established very easily and started to spread enthusiastically. I am a long way away from a carpet but I have a small ragged doormat. Writing about the RHS trial in 'The Plantsman', Brian Mathew says: "One of the members of the judging panel in whose garden this thrives described it as a 'beautiful thug' and that does sum up the enthusiasm with which this species can seed around when well suited! In spite of this it is a delightful plant for a partially shaded position where it does not become too sunbaked in summer, for it is a plant of woodland or damp meadows in the wild. Although the foliage emerges well before flowering it remains in good condition." |
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| 17th March 2019 | ||
