Portuguese squill

Description:

This spectacular and exotic-looking species is difficult to miss when its large conical racemes burst into bloom in spring. It is variable in appearance - the raceme may contain up to 100 individual blooms, but sometimes there may be only 20. The lowest blooms have long stalks and are held almost horizontally from the stem, while the uppermost are almost stalkless. Very rarely, white flowers are produced, in which case the stamens are often green instead of the more usual blue. The plant grows from a large bulb just below the ground surface.

Habitat:

Found in damp and sandy habitats, open woodland, scrub and roadsides. Also frequently found near the coast.