Scilla scilloides PFAF Plant Database

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Scilla scilloides - (Lindl.)Druce.

Common Name

Family

Hyacinthaceae

Synonyms

S. sinensis. (Lour.)Merrill.

Known Hazards

None known

Habitats

Hills and lowland all over Japan[58].

Range

E. Asia - China, Japan, Korea.

Edibility Rating

Medicinal Rating

Care

Summary

Physical Characteristics

Scilla scilloides is a BULB growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in).
It is hardy to zone 5. It is in flower from Aug to September. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs)

Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil.


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dalgial

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scilla_scilloides.jpg

Habitats
Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Leaves; Root. Edible Uses: Leaves - cooked[105, 177]. Bulb[105, 177]. No more details are given. The bulb is up to 2cm in diameter[200].

Medicinal Uses
Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally. Poultice. The bulbs are pounded and applied to abscesses[218].

Other Uses
None known

Cultivation details
Succeeds in full sun or light shade in a well-drained humus-rich soil with adequate moisture when in growth[200]. The hardiness of this plant varies according to provenance, the hardiest forms tolerate temperatures down to about -15°c[200]. The flowers have a hyacinth-like aroma[245].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame. Sow the seed thinly and allow the seedlings to remain in the pot for their first year of growth, giving them liquid feeds if necessary. Prick out the young bulbs, 2-3 to a pot, when dormant and grow them on for their next two years in a frame. Plant them out into their permanent positions when dormant[200]. Division of established clumps when the foliage dies down in the summer[200]. The larger bulbs can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up the smaller bulbs and grow them on in a cold frame for a year before planting them out when dormant in late summer.

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Expert comment

Author
(Lindl.)Druce.

Botanical References
58200

Links / References

[58]Ohwi. G. Flora of Japan. (English translation)

The standard work. Brilliant, but not for the casual reader.

[105]Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World.

The most comprehensive guide to edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.

[177]Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption.

An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of latin names with a brief list of edible parts.

[200]Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.

Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.

[218]Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China

Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.

[245]Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World.

An excellent, comprehensive book on scented plants giving a few other plant uses and brief cultivation details. There are no illustrations.

Readers comment

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