Scilla Species, Caribbean Lily, Cuban Lily, Giant Squill, Hyacinth of Peru, Portuguese Squill

This plant is sold infrequently as a indoor plant, usually for a special event in the spring. I brought one and it blooms frequently for ...Read Morea few weeks during spring. Even thought I still have the plant, it didn't bloom again after the first year and it have been three years now.

I recently acquired on of these and didn't even know what it was. I was intrigued by the blossoms...and they are wondrous! I fed the pl...Read Moreant some Alaskan fish emulsion to promote blooming and it worked well. Does the 'scilla' name descend from the resemblance of the blossom structure to the 'Scylla' monster of Odyssey fame?

S. peruvian not a reliable bloomer. I planted 2 bulbs in fall 2002 in my zone 7b garden, and for 2 years they did nothing but produce man...Read Morey healthy leaves. Spring 2005 was first bloom, and it was magnificent. 2 bulbs have now each produced a new plant. Will dig up 1 or 2 bulbs and try them in a warmer micro-environment than the zone 6b normally found in Buffalo, NY. If you are a sucker for blue flowers, there are few finer than this one.

I live in North Texas and seen one plant of the Cuban Lilly at one of the home improvement stores in spring of 2002. (If I see only one p...Read Morelant of a kind, I have to have it.) The tag gave the following info: "Sun to part shade. Ht. 6-18", space 8". This virtually evergreen perennial displays clusters of small star-shaped flowers of purplish-blue or white in early summer."

I bought the plant with 2 flowerheads of beautiful blue and planted it near my pond which receives full sun until about 1 pm in spring and 3 pm in summer (which is quite hot here). The tag didn't tell anything about hardiness, so I covered it if frost was expected. Doing so, only a few leaves wilted and the rest stayed green.

In very early spring new leaves emerged and within one month new flowerheads were visible. This time 3 and after the first 2 finished blooming, 2 more flowerheads came through. Very pretty, but the flowers don't last that long here, that's about the only negative thing about it.

One more thing; the tag revealed was that "it thrives in a moderately fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil. This species does not have a natural dormancy period, so withholding water in summer will allow it to go dormant and rejuvenate for next year." My lily will get water every time my sprinkler system comes on, so I do not withhold water at any time (except in winter when I don't water that often).

Update as of 4-22-05. I divided the main plant into 4 smaller ones. It has not flowered yet. (see review Happenstance)

I have a Caribbean Lily that I purchased from a grocery store in a small pot about 2 years ago. It is now in a 23 gallon planter and doin...Read Moreg quite nicely in my back yard. The only thing now is that I'm unsure how to divide it or store the bulbs for the summer. The planter is quite worn and the bulbs need to be divided and replanted ASAP. But, it's over 100 degrees here in Northern California and I'm afraid that I'll kill it. Any Ideas?

I bought a very dilapidated Caribbean lily in a somewhat horticulturally challenged mega-store. I live in a sunny New York City apartment...Read More. Do you think there is any chance of rehabilitating this plant. I'm a complete sucker for blue flowers which this had. Should I repot it? Let the foliage die back? Thanks for any help!

Native to Western Mediterranean (Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Tunisia) this bulb-like perennial was named after the ship "The Peru" that fir...Read Morest brought it to England from Spain.

Doesn't like to be moved which will retard flowering for a couple of seasons. Has a distinct cat-pee odor when leaves are damaged. Beautiful blue toned flower stalks, also comes in white - 'Alba'.

Spreads by divisions and seeds.

Gophers love this plant, needs a wire underground cage if your garden is visited by pocket gophers.

I live in zone 5a/4b, so to say I have been successful with this plant is quite an accomplishment! I purchased one last fall (it was lis...Read Moreted as hardy only to zone 7 on the plant information sheet) as a "trial" because it was so unusual! I planted it up against the south side of my home along the furnace chimney, well protected from the winter sun/wind etc. almost dead-center of the back of the house, and screened by a trellis from the direct southern sun. It bloomed gloriously this spring, and the bloom lasted quite a few weeks! I am so impressed that I purchased two more this fall to plant alongside the first!