# Siberian squill (*Scilla siberica*) The Siberian squill is a beautiful little flower that blooms in spring. It has bright blue petals that look like tiny stars, making gardens and fields look magical! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 15 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Siberian squill](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Scilla_siberica..JPG&width=800) Photo: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scilla_siberica..JPG) ## Appearance The Siberian squill has vibrant, bell-shaped blue flowers that nod gracefully on slender stems. Each blossom features six petals and prominent anthers, creating a star-like appearance. Its glossy, strap-like green leaves emerge from the ground early in spring. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Liliopsida - **Order:** Asparagales - **Family:** Asparagaceae - **Genus:** Scilla ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's native to Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey, not just Siberia. - It quickly spreads, forming breathtaking blue carpets in early spring gardens. - Its vivid blue flowers are one of the very first signs of spring. - This tough plant can even push its blooms through a light snow layer! ## Special abilities - **Early Bird Bloom:** Siberian squill can emerge and flower very early, capturing sunlight before trees leaf out. - **Energy Storage:** Siberian squill has underground bulbs that store energy, allowing it to survive harsh winters and re-emerge. - **Ant Assistance:** Siberian squill has seeds with fatty elaiosomes that attract ants for dispersal, spreading its offspring. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 10-20 cm - **Spread:** 5-15 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits for nectar and pollen. - **Eats:** [Black garden ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Lasius niger*) — fatty elaiosomes on its seeds. - **Eaten by:** [Common vole](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-vole) (*Microtus arvalis*) — its underground bulbs. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers without asking an adult. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Siberian squill? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Siberian squill? 10-20 cm ### How wide does Siberian squill spread? 5-15 cm ### How big are the flowers on Siberian squill? 1-2 cm ### When does Siberian squill bloom? Early spring ### Is Siberian squill edible? No ### Is Siberian squill toxic? Mild ### What is Siberian squill's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Barrington Civic Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/barrington-civic-center-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Canton Center Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/canton-center-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Capen-Clark Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/capen-clark-historic-district) — Connecticut, US · Historic District - [Clinton Hill Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clinton-hill-historic-district) — New York, US · Historic District - [Fort Tryon Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-tryon-park) — New York, US · Park - [Humboldt (Alexander Von) Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/humboldt-alexander-von-park) — Illinois, US · Park [View all places to see Siberian squill](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/siberian-squill) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Siberian squill: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/siberian-squill)