Stunning, extravagant and unfortunately only short-lived - when this type of Szilla is in full bloom, it adorns the home. Better not to plant them out. Why this has to do with their winter hardiness and more about their frost tolerance is explained below…

The Peruvian Squill is not hardy

A Mediterranean, non-hardy plant

The Peruvian squill originally comes from the Mediterranean region. It occurs from southwest Europe to northwest Africa. This circumstance means that it does not tolerate severe frost. It is therefore considered not hardy in this country. For this reason, it is usually cultivated in pots at home.

The Peruvian squill can only tolerate short-term frost and temperatures that do not fall below -5 °C. But even that is not 100% certain. So you'd better not put him to the test.

Winter time is flowering time

In its homeland, Scilla peruviana flowers in the wild between May and June. In this country, this plant is usually kept in a pot in the home four walls. There it is stimulated in autumn to flower in winter.

The flowers stand together in a racemose inflorescence that is remotely reminiscent of that of the artichoke. Here, 40 to 100 individual flowers adorn the large inflorescence. They are hermaphroditic and triad. Their color can range from blue-purple to white - depending on the variety.

How to get this plant through the winter?

Plants that have been moved out should be put back in during the winter. Otherwise they freeze to death. Plants that are already in pots in the living room, kitchen or elsewhere do not necessarily need to be moved in winter.

The main thing is that they are in a frost-free and bright place. The temperatures should be in the range between 10 and 20 °C. Be careful not to expose the plant to direct sunlight!

Care during the winter time

During the winter period, the Peruvian squill needs a little care:

  • water regularly
  • supply with liquid fertilizer every 2 weeks
  • Ventilate the room well (to avoid dry room air)
  • check for pest infestation
  • remove wilted leaves
  • Cut off the inflorescence after flowering

tips

Caution: No matter how beautiful the Peruvian squill is - it is poisonous! Place it where small children and pets cannot access.

Category:

Herbs