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How to Grow Puschkinia Plants

Gardener's HQ Guide to Growing Striped Squill

Puschkinia are dwarf hardy bulbs. They reach about 15 cm (6 inches) in height when in bloom.

They bloom in the early spring, when they carry spiked flowers that are star shaped and striped in blue and white.

The foliage of the Puschkinia plant consists of strapped shaped leaves. These usually have an erect nature.

A common name for Puschkinia is Striped Squill.

Puschkinia
Puschkinia (Sstriped Squill) by Dendroica cerulea.

Puschkinia Growing and Care Guide

  • Common Names: Striped squill.
  • Life Cycle: Half hardy bulb.
  • Height: 6 inches (15 cm).
  • Native: Middle East.
  • Growing Region: Zones 4 to 10.

  • Flowers: Late winter to early spring.
  • Flower Details: White or blue and white stripes. Star shaped. Fragrant. Loose raceme.
  • Foliage: Clump-forming. Strapped. Dark Green. Two leaves. Erect.

  • Sow/Plant Outside: Seed grown plants usually take four years to flower. Germination time: at least one month. First sow into flats. Next sink the flat into the ground in an area that offers shade, preferably close to a wall that faces north. Provide a glass/plastic covering. Keep an eye on the flats to ensure that the soil remains moist and to check if seedlings have emerged, if so transplant to their final location.
    Seeds: 1/8 inch (3 mm). Autumn.
    Bulbs: 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 cm). Autumn. Space at 3 to 4 inches (8—10 cm).

  • Requirements and care: Full sunlight or partial shade. Good drainage. Moist soil. Regular watering. Autumn mulch. Propagate from bulblets in the autumn, once foliage has died back.
  • Family: Asparagaceae.
  • Closely Related Species: Asparagus, Yuuca, and Dracaena plants
  • Miscellaneous: Deer tolerant. Named after the Russian chemist and botanist Apollo Mussin-Pushkin.

How to Grow Striped Squill and Other Puschkinia

For quick results grow Striped Squill and other Puschkinia from bulbs. These should be buried in the autumn about 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches) deep, and about 10 cm (4 inches) apart.

Locate in a part of the garden that has moist soil.

Puschkinia species are able to grow in sunny and partially shaded parts of the garden.

If growing from seeds, then sow into flats in the autumn at about 3 mm (1/8 inch) deep. The flats should then be sank into a fully shaded part of the garden and covered with glass.

It will take at least a month for Striped Squill seedlings to appear. These should be transplanted into their final location as they emerge.

It will take about four years until seed grown Puschkinia will flower.

Caring for Puschkinia

Puschkinia species such as Striped Squill like a moist soil so keep well watered.

An application of mulch is required in the autumn to protect the plant from excessive cold. If you require more plants then they can be propagated by taking bulblets from the plant every couple of years.

I hope that you enjoyed this guide on how to grow Puschkinia plants. You may also enjoy the following Gardener's HQ growing guides: How to grow Polygonatum, Diascia plant, Castor Bean, and Ornithogalum plants.

If you enjoy the information on this site, then you'll love my book: The Gardener's HQ Plant Growing Guide. Available for Kindle (MOBI), iPad (ePub) and as a PDF.

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