Scilla peruviana L. (the proposed name change for this species was Oncostema peruviana (L.) Speta) 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. Many former Scilla species are now included in this species and there is a long list of synonyms.
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 shows a seed head, and photo 5 shows 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. The last photo from Mary Sue Ittner shows one with white flowers.
The form that was formerly named Scilla cupanii Guss. in 2025 is included in Scilla peruviana. It is an endemic species from mainland Sicily, a smaller form, with pale blue flowers. Height range: 15-45 cm. Photo from Angelo Porcelli.
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 and the form previously known as 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.
The form that was formerly named Scilla hughii Tineo ex Guss. in 2025 is included in Scilla peruviana. According to Angelo Porcelli the leaves are wider, almost triangular in young plants and a bit shorter, as shown in the first photo by Angelo Porcelli. The leaf base is pigmented (purplish) as is the flower stalk and the bracts and flowers are actually a deeper blue with a shade of purple too. But the easiest difference is the length of the bracts; they are by far longer. The other photos were taken by Susan Hayek at Telos Rare Bulbs nursery owned by Diana Chapman. Diana says, "Endemic to a small island off the coast of Italy, the very rare Scilla hughii is often confused with S. peruviana. S. hughii is characterized by the much longer bracts beneath each pedicel, the purple flush to the bracts and pedicels, and the brilliant two-tone coloring of the florets."
The form that was formerly named Scilla sicula Tineo ex Guss. in 2025 is included in Scilla peruviana. It is found in Sicily, Malta, and some relict populations in Southern Italy. It is a tetraploid species, bigger, with pale blue-grayish flowers and ciliate leaves. More information is found here. Photo by Angelo Porcelli.
