Ledebouria socialis, Silver Squill, is a South African geophytic perennial with dramatic spotted leaves and a tough drought-tolerating disposition. It has tiny flowers borne in summer which although insignificant in size are utterly fascinating on closer inspection. On pale pink stems, the petals have a green midstripe with greenish-white on either side and the stamens have purple filaments with yellow anthers. A study in understated charm.

Silver Squill is a plant that will put up with an extraordinary amount of neglect - going for months or even years without water - but when looked after and cultivated well, it will reward with a magnificent display of exotic foliage. It is usually grown as a houseplant in a wide shallow planter giving it plenty of room for its bulbs to expand and multiply and then treated to a long summer holiday outside in the sun. It is however, more cold tolerant than is generally realised and will take sub-zero temperatures as long as it is dry. If you live in one of the warmer locations in the UK you may wish to experiment with this outdoors through the winter planted directly in the ground. Its main requirement in all instances is a very free-draining soil and a warm sheltered aspect - up against a wall or beneath the protection of overhanging branches - is ideal. The bulbs mutiply freely and the offsets are easily detached so once you have a decent-sized clump you can try a few outside in a warm dry spot.

Ledebouria socialis is such an easy and rewarding plant and looks good as an understory groundcover beneath large succulents. It should be remembered however, that it is toxic so don't let your pets or young children inadvertently chew on it...