Scilla (cont.)

English Bluebells

And if all that weren't enough, they are extremely tolerant of wet soils. If you have a damp patch in your garden you didn't know what to do with, English Bluebell will grow there very happily.

Flowering time:	mid spring
Plant height:	8 - 18" (20 - 50 cm)
Minimum planting depth:	2" (5 cm)
Hardiness zones:	suitable for zones 5 - 7
Colours:	violet-blue
Shape/form:	many small bell-shaped flowers hanging from an upright stalk leaves form an encircling clump
Alternate names:	British Bluebell, Scilla nutans, Scilla non-scripta, Endymion non-scriptus Correct Latin name: Hyacinthoides non-scripta
Notes:	Plant under trees or shrubs, in rock gardens, in beds or borders; good as cut flowers Will tolerate all except hot dry growing conditions

Plants which have a fragrance, I have indicated by putting an asterisk (*) after the name.

English Bluebells*	Scilla tubergeniana

Scilla tubergeniana

• it is the very first Scilla to come into bloom (about the same time as Snowdrops)
• it will tolerate quite a bit of shade
• it's the only Scilla species which is naturally white
• it has a very long blooming period
• it will also tolerate periods of summer drought

The bulbs are not available everywhere, but many mail order and on-line catalogues do offer them. I suggest you start with: John Scheeper Inc, McClure & Zimmerman, Van Engelen Inc, or Botanus.

Flowering time:	very early spring
Plant height:	3 - 8"
Minimum planting depth:	4"
Hardiness zones:	suitable for zones 3 to 9 also suitable for zone 2 if bed is covered with a deep layer of mulch in the fall
Colours:	white with a blue midrib vein in the center of each petal; brilliant yellow stamens
Shape/form:	numerous star-shaped blooms dependent from a short stalk
Alternate names:	Correct Latin name: Scilla mischtschenkoana
Notes:	good for lawns, rock gardens, woodland gardens, under trees and shrubs, and in beds and borders; grows very well in light shade, and in dry woodlands