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Spring squill, a short-stalked wildflower with purple-blue, star-shaped flowers, growing from short grass

Spring squill © Mark Hamblin/2020VISION

A cluster of spring squill growing in short grass. They are short, purple-blue, star-shaped wildflowers with six petals and a dark blue bract at the base

Spring squill © Margaret Holland

Spring squill

Spring squill is a small, star-shaped purple-blue flower found on coastal grasslands.

Scientific name

Scilla verna

When to see

Mainly April to May

Species information

Category

Statistics

Height: up to 15 cm

Conservation status

Least Concern on the GB Red List

Habitats

About

Spring squill is well-adapted to tolerate the salt spray of the coast. Look for its purple-blue flowers alongside thrift on coastal clifftops. It often grows prolifically in the short, grassy areas right next to coast paths. Rarely, it can also be found on heathland inland. Spring squill blooms during April and May, though it may flower later in northern areas.

How to identify

The short stalk bears up to 10 flowers, each of which contains six blue petals and opens up like a star. At the base of each flower is a dark purple bract. The leaves are long, thin and often curled.

Distribution

This species has a strong westerly distribution, with strongholds in places like Isles of Scilly, Cornwall, Pembrokeshire, Anglesey, Isle of Man, north and east coasts of Northern Ireland, and the west coast of Scotland. It is also found in the far north, with strong populations on Shetland and Orkney.

Did you know?

Spring squill is closely related to the bluebell and, like the bluebell, was once placed in the lily family. Following DNA analysis, it is now considered to be part of the asparagus family.