From Cold to Colour: BelSU Scientists Force Scillas Bloom Early

Amid an unusually cold winter, the Belgorod National Research University (BelSU) is defying the season with vibrant blooms of Siberian scillas, as researchers explore innovative methods for forcing early flowering of various ephemeroids.

Tatyana Glubsheva, Director of the Institute of Pharmacy, Chemistry, and Biology, recently showcased the blooming primroses as part of an ongoing experiment with Siberian scillas, often mistakenly referred to as snowdrops. These charming primroses typically bloom between March and April, gracing observers with their beauty for just a few weeks.

Glubsheva notes that research into the early forcing of flowering primroses has been a focus at the BelSU Laboratory of Biological Resources and Agricultural Plant Breeding for over a decade. Throughout this time, scientists have delighted their colleagues with early blooms of irises, daffodils, crocuses, hyacinths, and tulips.

This year, first-year graduate students Dmitry Sirik and Daria Agaeva took part in the scilla project. The bulbs were prepared and planted in October 2025, and by January, the students were thrilled to witness the first signs of blooming. To simulate winter conditions and facilitate the gradual onset of spring, the bulbs were stored in a substrate within a refrigerator. A total of three flushes of blooms are planned, with one expected each month.

“This research is vital for understanding how to utilize primroses in landscaping. Their decorative qualities can enhance both outdoor spaces and indoor settings, such as pots and planters. Additionally, many primroses possess medicinal properties, making it essential to study their chemical composition,” Daria explained.

Looking ahead, next year the laboratory plans to cultivate Gagea commonly known as yellow star-of-Bethlehem. However, collecting material for this study poses challenges, as these plants bloom for only about a week during March and April and require well-lit areas to thrive. Flowering ceases when sunlight diminishes due to leaf-out on trees or overgrown grass, complicating efforts to find yellow stars-of-Bethlehem.

“Our biological resources laboratory focuses on studying plants that may benefit humans in various ways, including food and medicinal uses," explains Glubsheva. “Bulbous plants are particularly interesting for ornamental landscaping.”

Refining the methodology for timing, stages, and forcing conditions will form the foundation for advancing small-bulbous plant cultivation – an important step towards import substitution.

“It’s below freezing outside, yet here at our university, it’s spring with flowers in bloom,” Glubsheva remarks. “We hope to scale up our experiment and achieve larger-scale flowering.”

Just five years ago, much of the ornamental landscaping relied on bulbs imported from the Netherlabds; now, there is a strong desire to transition to locally sourced bulbs.

Additionally, this year, the laboratory aims to surprise visitors with the early blooming of lily-of-the-valley and irises – the plants are eagerly awaiting the scientists’ decision to “awaken” them.