Today on my walk to my local plant shop, I stumbled upon this lovely little cat. I don't know her name or where she came from, but I do know that she made my day just a bit brighter. I asked her to pose for some photos, a request she was more than happy to entertain. When I went back later to look at the photos, I couldn't help but notice the little pops of indigo lurking in the background.
These, it turns out, are a type of flower called Siberian Squill or Scilla siberica. As a romantic who takes delight in all things whimsical, I prefer to call them by one of their many other names: Spring Beauties. These heralds of spring are perennials that usually flourish in the early March and April. They are prominently planted as ornamental garden plants, but can be seen popping through still frozen soil in areas that haven't yet been cultivated by human hands.
That being said, these plants are invasive as they are originally native to Western Asia, Southwest Russia, and Turkey. They are rather hearty as they are resistant to pesticides, frosts, and can thrive in a variety of conditions. In fact, if planted and left alone, they will spread and multiply more and more each year. It goes without saying that these flowers are relatively low maintenance--all it takes to grow them is full to partial sun and moist soil of any variety. It may seem like these plants do no good to native wildlife, but indigenous bees and butterflies are actually quite fond of them!
These flowers, despite attracting many pollinators, are not loved by all species. As it turns out, these flowers are highly toxic to humans and animals of the like! They contain something called scilliroside, a coumpound commonly used in rat poison. If ingested in a large enough quantity, these flowers can cause vomitting, stomach upset, and death. On the contrary, if used in the right amount, some species of this flower can be used as medicine for both heart conditions and respiratory ailments such as asthma and bronchitis.
Historically, this plant has been used as a medicine and, I'm sure, as a means of acting on some rather nefarious intentions. However, this plant has also been used for spiritual and metaphysical purposes as well. The plant is named after the Greek goddess Scylla, a beautiful woman who was cursed and turned into a sea monster. This name is, I believe, is perfectly fitting of this flower as it is both beautiful and deadly. Speaking of deadly, some believed that the Spring Beauty was sacred to witches and evil spirits. As such, it was believed that one should avoid stepping on these flowers so as to avoid incurring any ill-will from such beings. In other historic traditions, this flower has been used for both dispelling hexes and curses and for drawing money to oneself. It has been said to be especially effective when used in conjunction with silver.
Writing this has left me in a state of reverence, awe, and amazement the powerful dichotomy that can co-exist in such a little flower. Perhaps reading this has instilled in you some of the same awe that I have described above and you wish to plant this flower in your garden this year. If this is the case, do so in autumn. Enjoy the gentle beauty of the blossoms, but beware the potentially fatal powers they hold.
