PlantFiles: Striped Squill, Snowdrift, Early Stardrift
Puschkinia libanotica

I live in a suburb just west of Minneapolis.
Striped squill plants grew in my lawn without me doing anything. No idea where they came from, but I love them. They are the first thing to bloom when the snow melts and they keep multiplying every year. They are gone by the time we have to mow the lawn for the first time. I have enough of them now to move several to my rock garden and enjoy them "en masse."

I love this little plant. I had it growing for years in a spot that was probably too shady. I got more blubs and planted them this fall in a much better location - closer to the house and sunnier.

The combination of blue and white always reminded me of denim.

This species forms dense clusters. Dividing seems to improve flowering.

They seed nicely, but if you want the new seedlings to spread out, scatter the seeds yourself.

Last spring a seedling of mine flowered for the first time and showed an unusual mutation. It has no blue pigment and is completely white.

***I strongly suggest not planting near muscari (grape hyacinths). The muscari completely took over one patch of these plants and because their first-year seedlings are nearly indistinguishable, it was difficult to separate them.

An aggressive seeder in our area. Seems to take about two years to go from seed to small bulb that flowers. May not be quite as aggressive as Chionodoxa forbesii (C. luciliae).
Tends to flop.

They are very cute.
Mine are not spreading at all(I wish they would), I have them in part shade so maybe they spread more in full sun????

This flower has no presence in the garden, but is gorgeous upon close inspection. Plant many close together with species tulip Humilis for a much better show.

This plant tend to self sow itself into clumps that varies in size compare to Siberian Squill that tend to spread itself out. I have many patches - they do great with other squill species or varieties like 'alba' ,low growing tulip sp. and other dwarf bulbs with Chinodoxa for a example in sunny or woodland (get good sun, no evergreen or structure blocking spring sun) before prennials comes up.

Pretty little pale blue flowers seem to thrive in an area or not very hospitable soil. If they are multiplying, I am hardly aware of it, they are not the slightest bit invasive as far as I can see, and they're tiny and charming.

Charming little flower in garden! Beautiful!

The seeds tend to fall only as far as a bending stem goes, unless it gets picked up somehow and carried, but this is too demure and easily handled plant to even think if it as invasive. The better term is "naturalizing."

Mature bulbs produce multiple stems, and in good conditions can have a subsequent bloom period of several weeks.

Tough and adaptable underused sping bulb.

Small blue flowers open on 4-6+" stems early in spring. They mature to a very pale blue as they develop (almost to a white). The bulbs are tiny, but seem to multiply rapidly. They add a much needed splash of color after the drab winter months have passed. I have noticed mature seed spheres developing after the blooms fade. Being curious, I followed their development to find the seeds spread from these spheres after they mature and dry out. This form of natural re-seeding leads some to feel they are invasive. However, I don't mind their reproduction. To avoid this simply shear off the flowers once mature or dry.

While it does self seed nicely, and reportedly, ants help spread the seeds throughout the garden, I would never consider it invasive. Of this minor bulb, Louise Beebe Wilder wrote: "It is a flower meant for minute scrutiny, to hold in the hand or to bend over attentively, when its modest charms will be made plain to you."