Alpine Squill Care

Scilla bifolia, the alpine squill or two-leaf squill, is a herbaceous perennial plant growing from an underground bulb, belonging to the genus Scilla of the family Asparagaceae.

The specific epithet bifolia means "twin leaved".

Scilla bifolia grows from a bulb 1–2 cm (0.4–0.8 in) across. There are two or rarely three lance-shaped, curved, fleshy and shiny leaves and the bases of the leaves clasp up to about the half of the stem (amplexicaul).

The flowering stems are erect and unbranched, 10–20 cm (4–8 in) high. The raceme bears 6-10 flowers, each 1 cm (0.4 in) across.

The flowers of Scilla bifolia are upward-facing, unlike the nodding flowers of Scilla siberica (Siberian squill). They bloom from early to late spring. The six tepals are deep violet-blue, more rarely white, pink, or purple.The fruit is a capsule 6–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) across.

S. bifolia has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

This plant is useful.

How to get rid of: Dig out the Scilla as best you can (or cover the area with black plastic) and then control any spread on the perhiphery by mowing, striping seed pods, etc. Stray Scilla that comes up in the garden can be dug. You can try using glyphosate and just keep after the survivors. But again you will have to reestablish the turf.