Scilla madeirensis

This is both a rare plant and a recent introduction! Native to the island of Madeira, Scilla madeirensis is a bulb that, until fairly recently, could only be seen growing out of the island’s rocky cliffs, or when it was in bloom at a botanical garden somewhere. 

Scilla madeirensis is interesting in so many ways—starting with the bulbs, which are large at around 10cm across, and dark amethyst-purple! This is a tropical plant, and not hardy outdoors in the UK—so grow it indoors or in a cool greenhouse. Each autumn, it sends up a stalk to 60cm high, which is topped with an exotic, lavender-blue flower cone. This cone is around 15cm long, and it comprises dozens of bluish blooms held horizontally from the stem, rather like a big, blue bottlebrush. A mature Madeiran Squill plant has around nine fleshy, pointed leaves, each about 30cm long. Some of the leaves may have attractive purple dots on them.