Description
A charming small species, considered at one time to belong to Hyacinthoides but subsequently transferred to Scilla before ending up back to Hyacinthoides yet again! This is perhaps understandable as the individua l flowers are borne very much in the manner of a Scilla as well as being individually larger than most.
This has a rosette of narrow prostrate leaves under a short, 10 cm, stem crowded with open faced, blue flowers in early spring. To the layman, this is perhaps not unlike the related paivae or even close to, though a little less like, reverchonii, to look at. Unlike those species, mauritanica hails from the Atlas Mountains of N. Africa where it is subject to both frosts and snow.
Well-drained loam soil in light shade or sun, also very good in a pot/pan under alpine glass where you can enjoy its early flowers (the first week of March with us generally) in a less weather-splashed state.
