Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Scilla siberica

Siberian Squill · Wood Squill

Family AsparagaceaeGenus Scilla

A clump of deep blue bell flowers with darker stripes, hanging from arching dark stalks above broad green leaves.
FlowerDominicus Johannes BergsmaCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
BulbExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Flower
Deep blueFlora of North America
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Flora of North America — Flora of North America Editorial Committee.

Worth knowing

  • Despite its name, the Siberian squill is not native to Siberia; it comes from southwestern Russia, the Caucasus and Turkey. It spreads by seed into large colonies in grass, which go dormant by the time the grass needs mowing, and it is a known invasive in Minnesota. Wikipedia: Scilla siberica

This source reports 7 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    7 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

70% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around December 15, 2026 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    22 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

65% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    25 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

60% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 15, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    24 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 1 run on after germination.

Germination happens during step 1; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

58% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    12 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 9 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

53% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 17, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 16, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    21 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

38% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 21, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on March 20, 2026.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    11 germinated in this phase.

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    2 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

31% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212Public domain
Show the original text
Scilla (Liliaceae). S. sibirica germ. best in 70(22%)-40(65%) or 40(58%)-70(3%)-40(24%). Seed DS 6 m at 40 germ. well although two samples gave different behavior, 70-40(53%)- 70(12%) and 40(38%)-70(1%)-40(21%) for one sample and 70(60%)-40(25%) and 40- 70(7%)-40(70%) for the other. Seed DS 6 m at 70 germ. less as shown by 40(11%)- 70-40(31%)-70(2%) and none when sown at 70. The seed deteriorates in DS.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Scilla p. 212. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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