Ledebouria socialis "Silver squill"

Family Asparagaceae

Subfamily Scilloideae

Genus Ledebouria

Species socialis

Common name(s) Silver squill, Leopard Lily

Ledebouria socialis is an eye-catching and easy-to-grow bulb. It has a lovely color combination of purple on the bulbs and undersides of leaves, with mint-green tops covered in green leopard spots. It is a great ornamental year-round, and produces teensy bell-shaped flowers on stalks in the spring. 

With a bit of patience the Silver Squill will quickly fill a bowl. Plant as you would any bulb, with at least 1/3–1/2 of the bulb above the soil's surface. As the bulb begins to produce offsets it may tip over. If it does this without producing a baby bulb, that means it's stretching for more light! These are hardy to lower light conditions and often touted as a great indoor plant, but they will end up looking dippy and elongated without a bright window or supplemental grow light.

I've read you should separate these every few years like other bulbs, but I have been able to pot mine up as needed when they fill bowls. It just forms an ever-growing raised bump. Every year it goes through an awkward phase of producing new bulbs where it spreads out and it looks like it's balding. Just wait for those bulbs to sprout leaves and it will be back to normal.

Options: The "parent" plant you will receive a bulb from is pictured. You will receive a rooted bulb, or a bulb cluster with at least two offsets (three bulbs total). It may need more water until established, leaves will wilt to tell you if it is getting too dry.