Hyacinthoides italica, the Italian bluebell or Italian squill, is a spring-flowering bulbous perennial plant belonging to the family Asparagaceae.[1] [2]
It is one of around 11 species in the genus Hyacinthoides, others including the common bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta) in northwestern Europe, and the Spanish bluebell (Hyacinthoides hispanica) further west in the Iberian Peninsula.[3]
Hyacinthoides italica is up to 10- tall. The stem is leafless. It has 3-6 basal lance-shaped leaves, 4- wide and 7- long. The inflorescence is a dense, conical or pyramid-like raceme with 5-30 bright violet-blue star-like flowers. The flowers have two narrow bracts. Flowering period extends from February to May.[4] [5] [6]
It is in some respects intermediate between the common and Spanish species in having slender leaves (as in H. non-scripta or even slenderer), but a dense raceme of flowers (as in H. hispanica; not sparse and one-sided as in H. non-scripta).
Hyacinthoides italica is used as an ornamental plant. It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[7] [8]
This species is native to the central Mediterranean region, in northwestern Italy, in southern France, and in northeastern Spain.[9]
It can be found in olive groves, in dry and stony meadows and in clearings of forests at an elevation up to above sea level.