this post was submitted on 15 Apr 2025
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What is this thing?

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Southern Finland. I've found these and some more bluish ones. They are fairly small (the flower itself is about 4-6cm) and have these long, pretty thick leaves. It isn't visible in the photos, but the petals have this glittery look on them. Here's one of the blue ones, in a vase: I've mostly seen them near yards or gardens, so I think they aren't native.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I want to recommend the app Pl@ntnet! They are awesome, it is a citizen science project. It will very accurately tell you many plants. Fascinating thing. It was already there long before the current AI craze.

https://plantnet.org/en/

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

As the other commenters have pointed out, it's one of the plants in the Scilla genus (Kevättähti in Finnish).

Apparently the most common one we have escaping gardens in Southern Finland is Lucile's Glory-of-the-snow, Scilla luciliae (Isokevättähti in Finnish). Other possible options could be Scilla forbesii (Kirjokevättähti), Scilla sardensis (Sinikevättähti) or Scilla bifoliae (Pikkukevättähti).

The plant is native to Eastern Mediterranian and blooms as snow melts in high altitudes. Apparently, it doesn't really escape very far or spread quickly, and as such is not considered a great threat to native plants.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago

Google says it's scilla luciliae (glory of the snow) or closely related species

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Looks like Chionodoxa. No idea what they are called in Finland. They come in white, blue and purple , and can be bought at the garden centre for planting in the fall. One of the earliest to flower in spring. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scilla_sect._Chionodoxa