Scilla peruviana L. (the proposed name change for this species is Oncostema peruviana) is native to Portugal, Spain, and south of Italy, not Peru! There is a tale about the arrival of the bulbs on the ship named 'Peru' discussed here. It is winter growing and spring blooming with a short dormant period in summer and the reputation for skipping flowering seasons on occasion. The species is widely grown in many gardens with Mediterranean climates.
Photos by Bob Rutemoeller and Mary Sue Ittner show the stages of flowering.
Photos by David Pilling: photo 3 shows commercial bulbs on a 10 mm grid; photo 4 a seed head and photo 5 seed.
Photo 1 is of a clump with 14 flower stalks, although some not visible, grown from Angelo Porcelli. Photos 2-3 were taken by Rodger Whitlock at an early stage of flowering. Photos 4-5 were taken by Kathleen Sayce.
Here is a picture of a white flowering one taken by Mary Sue Ittner.
Scilla sicula is considered to be a synonym of this species according to some authorities.
This form, known in horticulture as "harrisiana" has pinkish mauve flowers and it's a sterile triploid, it never set seeds and it's likely to be a cross of peruviana x Scilla sicula, although its origin is unknown and the varietal name has no validity. Photo 2 is a pale blue form and photo 3 is a dark purple-violet form, both selected by Angelo Porcelli in a batch of seed grown plants.
