Scilla madeirensis

This is both a rare plant and a recent introduction! Native to the island of Madeira, Scilla madeirensis is a bulb that, until fairly recently, could only be seen growing out of the island’s rocky cliffs, or when it was in bloom at a botanical garden somewhere. Now, it is being offered again as we are building up stock in Israel—and it is wonderful.    

Scilla madeirensis is interesting in so many ways—starting with the bulbs, which are large at around 10cm across, and dark amethyst-purple! This is a tropical plant, and not hardy outdoors in the UK—so grow it indoors or in a cool greenhouse. Each autumn, it sends up a stalk to 60cm high, which is topped with an exotic, lavender-blue flower cone. This cone is around 15cm long, and it comprises dozens of bluish blooms held horizontally from the stem, rather like a big, blue bottlebrush. A mature Madeiran Squill plant has around nine fleshy, pointed leaves, each about 30cm long. Some of the leaves may have attractive purple dots on them.