Getting it to bloom

Why won't my Autumn Squill bloom? (and how to make it flower)

Also called Autumn Squill, Fall Squill (Scilla autumnalis).

More about autumn squill

About Autumn Squill

Scilla autumnalis · also called Autumn Squill, Fall Squill · flowering

Autumn Squill is a delicate, leafless-when-flowering bulb native to Mediterranean Europe, producing slender spikes of pale lilac-pink to violet-blue stars from late summer into autumn. Perfect for rocky, sunny slopes and dry meadow gardens. All Scilla species are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses; keep away from pets.

Plant type: flowering

Watch for — Failure to flower: Bulbs planted too deep or in too much shade will produce leaves but not flowers. Plant at twice bulb depth and in full sun.

The reasons autumn squill isn't blooming

Almost every non-blooming autumn squill traces back to one of these, roughly in order of how common they are:

Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.
Too much nitrogen feed, driving lush foliage at the expense of flowers (very common with general or lawn feeds).
The plant has not been deadheaded, so it stops flowering once it sets seed.
Irregular watering — drought or waterlogging at the budding stage makes buds abort.
It is still too young or was checked by a transplant and is rebuilding before flowering.

Feeding autumn squill a high-nitrogen general feed and growing it in too little sun — you get a big leafy plant and almost no flowers.

The fix — how to get autumn squill to flower

Maximise sun. Give autumn squill the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers.
Switch the feed. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.
Deadhead regularly. Remove spent flowers often to keep it producing more rather than stopping to set seed.
Water consistently. Keep moisture even through budding and flowering — drought-then-flood swings make buds drop.

Light and feeding do most of the heavy lifting here. Dial in the spot with the light guide for autumn squill and get the feeding right with the autumn squill fertilising schedule — the wrong feed (too much nitrogen) is one of the most common silent reasons a healthy plant makes leaves instead of flowers.

Bloom season and what to expect

Autumn Squill flowers across its growing season (mostly summer) and, kept fed and deadheaded, can bloom for many weeks or right up to frost.

Post-bloom care so it flowers again

Deadhead, keep feeding lightly, and many will rebloom; collect seed from the best plants at the end of the season if you want to grow them again.

For everything else this plant needs day to day, see the full autumn squill care brief and its watering schedule — a stressed, badly watered plant rarely has the energy to flower at all.

Autumn Squill blooming — frequently asked questions

Why won't my autumn squill flower?

Autumn Squill blooms on the season's growth given enough sun, warmth and the right feed — there is no cold or photoperiod trick, just good growing conditions and a bloom-leaning feed. The most common reason it is not happening: Too little sun — most of these need full sun (or very bright light) to flower well; shade gives leaves, not blooms.

How do I make autumn squill bloom?

Give autumn squill the sunniest spot you have — for most bedding and fruiting plants, more direct light directly means more flowers. Move off high-nitrogen feeds and use a higher-potassium "bloom" or tomato-type feed as it comes into flower.

When does autumn squill normally bloom?