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Key characteristics

Family: Asparagaceae
Height: 6 to 10 in
Width: 4 to 8 in
Flower color: Bright cobalt blue to violet-blue star-shaped flowers on short upright stems
Foliage color: Medium to bright green, narrow strap-like leaves emerging before or with flowers
Bloom time: Early spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate moisture
Maintenance: Low; remove spent flowers to tidy appearance, allow foliage to die back naturally after bloom, divide bulbs when clumps become crowded
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Bees and other early-season pollinators

Bulbs

Scilla forbesii

Glory of the Snow

Scilla forbesii produces clusters of star-shaped flowers in soft to medium blue, each petal marked by a pale central eye. Slender stems rise above narrow, glossy green leaves that emerge from the base. The blooms open fully in sunlight, forming loose sprays that brighten the garden in early spring.

Flowering occurs from late winter into early spring, often alongside the first seasonal bulbs. Native to western Turkey, this species has long been cultivated for naturalizing beneath deciduous trees, along pathways, and in lawns, where drifting plantings create broad sweeps of early color.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate moisture

Bloom time

Early spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Under Trees
Woodland Gardens
Rock Gardens

Companion plants

Japanese anemones · Bleeding hearts · Catmint · Grape hyacinths · Hardy geraniums · Hostas

Design tip

The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Drift them in uneven groups for a natural look, and interplant with perennials that fill the gap after the leaves die back.

Printable plant sheet (PDF)