Scilla bifolia is a perennial small-bulbous plant that belongs to the asparagus family (formerly classified as the lily family). In natural conditions, it thrives in Asia Minor, Central and Southern Europe, the Caucasus, and the Crimean Peninsula. Its habitat includes deciduous forests, meadows, and lawns. It is often found among beech trees, sometimes hornbeam. Scilla bifolia is one of those plants that are among the first to break through the withered leaves of the previous year. It usually grows on calcareous, clayey soils. Ephemeroid. It blooms from mid-March to late April. It blooms earlier than Siberian snowdrops. Flowering is long-lasting: 12-15 days.
Appearance
This is a low-growing plant with beautiful star-shaped flowers that spreads quickly. It is the most densely flowering of its kind. You will definitely like it! It reaches a height of up to 10-20 cm. The flowers, numbering from 3 to 15, are collected in raceme inflorescences. They appear in mid-spring. They are small, with six petals. Their color is blue (sometimes pink and white). Each flower has six stamens. The anthers are purple. The leaves are broadly linear, medium-sized (5-15 cm long and 0.7-2 cm wide), green. It emerges in early spring from an underground bulb. It is collected in basal rosettes of 2-3 pieces and forms neat low-lying clumps. The peduncle is bare, dark. The bulb is ovoid, with light scales, small (up to 2.5 cm long and up to 1-2 cm in diameter).
Planting. It prefers a semi-shady location. Snowdrops prefer loose soil, which includes organic-rich soil, and leaf mold. If possible, add forest soil with bark and leaves to the garden soil for planting. The soil should be slightly moist. Waterlogging should not be allowed. The soil should be light and well-drained. The planting depth should not exceed 5-6 cm. However, the distance between flowers should be left a little more, about 10 cm.
Care. Fertilization with mineral substances is necessary: potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen. In autumn, it is better to fertilize with granular fertilizers or slow-release ones, and in spring with liquid ones. Snowdrops can also not be fertilized, but in this case, the plant will be weak, and flowering will not be as lush. Water in drought. A snowdrop can grow in one place for more than 5 years.