Scilla is a large genus with about 90 species. This family of perennial bulbs is particularly attractive with its racemes of star-shaped or bell-shaped flowers rising above clumps of narrow basal leaves. Offering a lovely harmony of blues, Scilla are deer and rodent-resistant, prefer a bit of light shade, and naturalize readily. They will multiply quickly in the following years if left alone, forming large colonies that will go dormant by the time the grass needs to be mowed. Except for Scilla peruviana (Peruvian scilla), which a Mediterranean tender native, most scillas are cold-hardy species. Plant them in drifts and celebrate spring!