Hyacinthella

Hyacinthella dalmatica grandiflora

Beautiful bright cobalt blue flowers are crammed into a short spike. Each individual bloom is in the shape of a small bell, with out-flaring petal edges, revealing its dark blue-black anthers.

An exquisite miniature, but hardy, tough, robust and excellent in a sunny, well-drained spot outside, although its early flowers can also be appreciated under glass if you wish.

Hyacinthella lazulina

Glaucous leaves and 10-15cm tall spikes of deep blue flowers, infused with deep indigo. This is a distinct species which might trick you as Hyacinthella lazulina is not the same as Scilla lazulina, it is a true Hyacinthella.

This was originally described from Gulnar in Icel, Turkey (where it grows in rocky fields over limestone) and as such it is one of the more easterly species, geographically separated from the more western Hyacinthella such as heldreichii. The latter has been considered its closest relative but lazulina has a darker, more intensely coloured flower and its chromosome count indicates a relationship more to siirtensis and venusta.

In cultivation it is rarely seen but it is not difficult and enjoys 'typical' Mediterranean bulb conditions, with a dry summer rest and fertile, loam-based composts. Several of the naturally small bulbs are easily accommodated in a 12-15cm pot.