[3][4] Growing to 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall by 5 cm (2 in) wide, it is a bulbous perennial, with two to four strap-shaped leaves appearing in early spring, at the same time as the nodding, blue, bell-shaped flowers.

The stamens of Scilla are separate, unlike those of the related genus Puschkinia, which are fused into a tube.

At maturity, the capsules become purple and split open, releasing small, dark brown seeds.

When the seeds are mature, the leaves wither and the plant goes dormant until the next spring.

[6] This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.