Mishchenko squill, Scilla mishchenkoana

The bluestar lives up to its name. The beautiful bloom in bright blue and white adorns garden paths and flower borders. Botanically known as Scilla mischenkoana, it enchants garden lovers not only with its magical flowers, but also with a striking scent of sweet honey. We describe how to care for bluestars in our care instructions for you. Fortunately, the Scilla mischenkoana is a very easy-care spring bloomer that will give you a lot of pleasure with its pretty blooms.

Origin and flowers

The origin of the blue star is in the Mediterranean area. The two-leaved squill - Scilla bifolia, the Siberian squill - Scilla sibirica and the Mishchenko squill - Scilla mischenkoana are subdivided. This variety is also very well known in our latitudes. With resilient properties, they bloom from February to March and, depending on the region, into April. It is considered an asparagus plant and forms small onions with which it reproduces or grows very well through so-called brood onions. sows itself.

Each individual onion produces several flower stalks during the flowering period. A wonderful carpet of flowers is created quickly, which bees can also find quickly. The intense scent of honey quickly attracts the insects, they find the all-important food here after the cold winter period.

Location requirements and soil

The ideal place for the blue star is a sunny to partially shaded location. The little blue star feels particularly at home in the shade of deciduous trees. It is one of the first heralds of spring and after many years of propagation it adorns large areas in the forest or garden. You can also enjoy the early flowering period on the balcony, because the bluestar also feels at home in the planter. So it is worth giving this early bloomer a free space. He will pamper you every year with beautiful flowers.

Bluestars are pretty undemanding to the soil conditions. Therefore, they basically grow very well almost everywhere, as long as the lighting conditions are right. The soil should be well drained. Especially in spring there should be a good ratio of moisture without waterlogging. Sandy soil is also suitable for planting. Once the small bulbs are in the ground, they can remain here for the next few years without having to be removed from the ground after flowering.

plants

Like all other bulbous plants, autumn is the right time to bring the bulbs into the ground. Under hardwood, in the meadow or in the flowerbed - every place is the right place to plant squill. Even on the balcony you don't have to do without the pretty Scilla mischenkoana. Either way, fall is perfect for doing this planting job. You have time from October to frost-free days in November. Then nothing stands in the way of the flowering period in February - April.

Plant the bluestar bulbs immediately after buying them and do not leave them for long. If the onions are stored for too long, they will dry out. Dig plant holes between eight and ten centimeters deep. The distance between the individual onions should be approx. be five to eight centimeters.

Care tips

The bluestar bulbs remain in the ground. This allows them to reproduce naturally. However, there are a few things you can do to take care of the little beauties. They are only removed when the leaves and flowers have completely yellowed. This gives the bulbs the energy they need to bloom again next year.

In very cold regions it can be beneficial to cover the ground with leaves. This ground cover protects the onions from freezing at low temperatures. Please note, however, that in this case the foliage must be removed before sprouting. Then the scilla mishchenkoana also develops excellently.

After the flowering period in spring and the removal of the foliage, you basically no longer have to worry about the bluestars. Alternatively, it is a good idea to use plant baskets to design the garden in a targeted manner. The blue flowers are very suitable to be combined with other early bloomers. White crocuses create wonderful contrasts so that you can combine the flowerbed or planter as you wish.

Fertilize

To strengthen the plants, you can fertilize the bulbs after flowering in April. Light gifts are enough. As a rule, the bluestars do not require any more care.

Multiply

Bluestars reproduce by themselves. In the resting phase, they form small daughter bulbs and thus continue to spread on the meadow or in the flowerbed. You should therefore plan a somewhat more spacious location where the small early bloomers can spread out. Alternatively, you can dig up some of the bulbs and replant them elsewhere. Especially when after winter race or beds still look bare, these little blue and white splashes of color are a welcome decoration in the garden.

Pests and diseases

Fortunately, the small but robust squill are mostly spared from pests. The only thing they don't like is too much moisture in the soil. Persistent moisture can lead to bulb rot, so that the small flowers cannot grow in the next year. A drainage layer can help prevent this from happening. This allows rainwater to drain off better and does not damage the onions.