The spring squill is a native wildflower found only in isolated patches in light grass along the east coast at the back of grassy sand dunes. It is a very pretty little flower with a cluster of blue flowers facing upwards. It is not grown in gardens, nor is it grown commercially for sale.

It should only be admired, as it is illegal to dig it up. In any case, there are related foreign species that are better garden plants, the wild native plant having a weak stem and being a bit floppy.

However, the fact that a wild species grows here means that the soil and climatic conditions are likely to suit related foreign species. Scilla is part of the hyacinth family and has many family characteristics, although generally the plants are smaller in size. The flowers of scilla are not tubular like hyacinths, but open and star-shaped with six petals.

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The most widely grown kind is the Siberian squill, Scilla siberica, a very beautiful little flower with bright blue, nodding flowers airily arranged at the top of a flowering stem. Usually five flowers are carried on each stem. ‘Spring Beauty’ with intense blue flowers is a popular variety. The nodding flowers have a stripe of darker blue on the petals.

Siberian squill is a small plant, to about 15cm, often less. It thrives in a rock garden with a mulch of fine gravel. Given these conditions, it self-sows readily, a slew of young plants coming up near the parent clump. These seedlings look very like grass when small, and it is all too easy to root them out by accident.

Although it has the common name of Siberian squill, it does not come from Siberia but from southern Russia, Georgia and northern Iran.

Known as the Italian squill, although it occurs across southern Europe and Turkey, Scilla bifolia is a very pretty little flower. The word bifolia means two-leaved and it produces a pair of leaves and a flower stem between them.

The flowers are upward-facing and wide open, compared to the nodding bells of the Siberian squill. Difficult to find, as it is not widely available, the Italian squill is superb in a lightly wooded setting, making a sheet of blue, tinged with a shade of purple. The Siberian squill can be used in this way too, though it seems to prefer a rock garden setting.

The other scilla occasionally seen in gardens is the Peruvian squill, Scilla peruviana, which, despite the name, is originally from Portugal, Spain and North Africa.

This kind, for a border, has relatively large flowers, to 50cm tall, carrying scores of small, starry flowers in purple and violet blue. It has a distinctive, flattened flower spike.

This species does not self-sow readily but is easily grown from seed. Unlike the smaller kinds, this one is evergreen and the foliage can be burned by frost at the tips of the leaves, more severe damage occurring if the frost is severe, but it survives in colder inland areas despite the frost damage.

There are other species sometimes seen, such as Scilla mischtschenkoana, which has very pale blue flowers, star-shaped, and with a darker stripe. Its flowers are mostly upward-facing, some nodding like the Siberian scilla, and it comes from the same region of southern Russia.

From Turkey and Bulgaria, Scilla bithynica, shown, has long floppy leaves and clusters of starry blue flowers that open in succession. It is bigger than the rock garden kinds and thrives in woodland conditions, somewhat like bluebells, to which it is related, both being members of the hyacinth family. CL

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Flowers

Seeds of bedding flowers can be sown over the next two weeks. Start the seeds in warm conditions in a propagator or in a warm, bright room. Lifting and dividing of herbaceous flowers can continue, but should be completed soon. Ornamental grasses move best now, as they begin growth in spring.

Fruit, vegetables and herbs

New fruit trees should be planted within the next fortnight, if possible. Pruning of apple and pear trees and blackcurrant bushes should be completed, if not already done. Garlic and shallot sets should be planted without delay. Sow early vegetable seeds in a greenhouse or indoors to get an early start.

Lawns

Grass growth in recent weeks has been slow and stop-start, but this will change as soon as some warmer weather arrives. Mow the lawn if the weather is good and the soil is firm. Sulphate of iron or mosskiller can be applied to kill moss if there has been heavy growth. It is too early to feed a lawn.

Trees, shrubs and roses

Plant as soon as possible to allow trees and shrubs to settle in and make some root growth before bud-break. Water in any dry spell. Evergreens can be planted as the sap rises, over the coming month or so. Bush roses and repeat-flowering climbers should be pruned right away, if not already done.

Greenhouse and house plants

Feed and water heavily all greenhouse plants, if not already done. Sow seeds of tomatoes now for greenhouse growing, also sweet peppers and chilli peppers. A sowing before mid-March will usually produce its first ripe tomato in mid-July. Check greenhouse plants for signs of greenflies and other pests.