When should I plant them?

Plant the bulbs in the fall before the ground freezes.

Yes, they readily self-seed and multiply by bulb offsets.

Plant guide

Siberian Squill.

Othocallis siberica

Pronounced oh-tho-KAL-lis sy-BEER-ih-kuh

Also known as Othocallis siberica, Siberian Squill

Siberian Squill is a charming, early spring bloomer that naturalizes beautifully in lawns and woodland gardens. It produces lovely, nodding blue flowers that pop up right as the snow melts. These hardy bulbs are a fantastic way to welcome the new season.

Another photo of Siberian Squill — Photo by bondarev (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Bulbous perennial
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Indoor light: Bright indirect
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 6 inches
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 2 to 8
Bloom time: Early to mid spring

Care

Plant these bulbs in the fall to ensure they establish roots before winter. Watch for yellowing foliage after blooming, which is a normal sign that the plant is storing energy for next year. Keep the soil moist during the growing season but ensure it drains well to prevent bulb rot.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during the spring growth period.
Feeding: Apply a balanced bulb fertilizer once in early spring as shoots emerge.
Pruning: Remove spent flower stalks, but leave the foliage until it turns yellow and dies back naturally.
Repotting: Divide clumps every few years if they become too crowded or flowering declines.
Soil: Well draining, organic rich soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -30 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 5 to 10 years
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Bulbs becoming crowded in the pot
Reduced flowering performance over time

Safety

People: The plant contains compounds that can cause stomach upset if eaten.
Pets: This plant can cause digestive upset if ingested by cats or dogs.
Children: Keep bulbs away from children as they can be a choking hazard and are toxic if swallowed.
Contact allergens: Handling the bulbs may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Airborne allergens: There are no notable respiratory allergens associated with this plant.
Edibility: All parts of this plant are considered toxic if ingested.

How to identify it

Nodding, bell shaped blue flowers
Narrow, grass like basal leaves
Small bulbous perennial habit
Six petals per flower

Height: 0.1 to 0.15m
Spread: 0.05 to 0.1m
Leaves: green, deciduous
Flowers: blue, 1 to 2cm
Fruit: black, Late spring

Problems to watch for

Botrytis BlightCommon
Gray MoldCommon
Bulb RotUncommon
RodentsUncommon

By symptom

Plant problems by symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, seed
When to plant: autumn
Overwintering: No special care is needed as the bulbs are hardy and dormant underground during the winter.
In containers: They grow well in containers if given a cold dormant period, but are best suited for garden beds.

Division

1. Wait until the foliage has yellowed after flowering.
2. Carefully lift the clump with a garden fork.
3. Gently separate the small bulb offsets.
4. Replant the offsets immediately at the same depth.

Plant these in drifts under deciduous trees to maximize their early spring impact.

Grows well with

Snowdrop · They bloom at the same time and share similar woodland requirements.
Winter Aconite · The yellow flowers provide a beautiful color contrast to the blue squill.

Similar species

Glory of the Snow · It has a similar size and early spring bloom time.

Science

Family: Asparagaceae
Genus: Scilla
Order: Asparagales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Southwestern Russia, Caucasus, and Turkey.
Conservation: This species is not of conservation concern and is widely naturalized.

It thrives in deciduous woodlands where it completes its life cycle before the tree canopy fully leafs out.

Value to wildlife: early nectar source
Pollinators: bees
Uses: rock gardens, woodland borders, lawn naturalization

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 5/9
Light: 6/9
Temperature: 3/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 5/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

When should I plant them?: Plant the bulbs in the fall before the ground freezes.
Do they spread?: Yes, they readily self-seed and multiply by bulb offsets.

Where the name comes from

The genus name Scilla comes from the Greek word for a sea onion, while siberica refers to the mistaken belief that it originated in Siberia.

Good to know

Despite the name, it is native to southwestern Russia and the Caucasus, not Siberia.
The flowers often close up during cloudy weather.
They are one of the first signs of spring in many gardens.

Also in

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This guide was generated with AI on September 26, 2026 and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.