Scilla

The wood squills (or Scilla) constitute a fairly diverse family of perennial flowering bulbs, little known outside of the bluebell. The bifolia squills, nutans squills (bluebells) and sibirica squills (Siberian squills) are bell-shaped flowering bulbs that thrive in woodland. The Spanish bluebell (scilla hispanica), of the same type, prefers the sun but tolerates partial shade. The Tubergeniana squill, very similar to the Sibirica, is earlier and blooms in February, along with the snowdrops and eranthis with which it associates well. The Portuguese squill, taller and with ball-shaped flowers somewhat like those of alliums, needs sun to bloom in May-June. Most squills are blue or white, with a few pink varieties. These easy-to-grow bulbs are perfect for improving a shady corner in spring.