silver squill // wood hyacinth

order: asparagales
family: asparagaceae
genus: ledebouria
species: socialis

first published on 01.07.2012:

Looking a lot like a mini orchid, silver squill belongs to the asparagus family. This plant is a succulent perennial evergreen. It uses its pseudobulbs to store up water and nutrients. Their skin peels off like an onion. Each bulb has leaves at the end with greyish green and green spots on the topside and reddish purple on the underside. I especially love its tiny lantern-like flowers that hang down from the stems, which in turn emerge from between the leaves at the terminal of each bulb. The petals are actually not so colourful. When the flowers open pale green petals, or rather perianths, curl backwards and reveal its purple-coloured filamens and yellow anthers.

It seems to be quite an easy plant to keep. Because of its small size it also doesn't require much space. According to some sources it needs quite a lot of water. Although you should let the soil dry out before watering again. Fertilise once a month from April till September. In winter ideal temperature would be around 15 °C.

raceme with bell-shaped flowers

flower turned into fruit

>>Update:

in flower spring 2014.

flower close-up.