Glory of the Snow Chionodoxa luciliae
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Chionodoxa gigantea
- Scilla luciliae
- Phonetic Spelling
- kee-on-oh-DOCKS-ah loo-SIL-ee-eye
- Description
-
From the Greek words chion which translates to snow and doxa meaning glory, Glory-in-the-Snow is an early spring blooming bulb with star-shaped blue-purple flowers. Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier honored his wife Lucille.
They bloom February to March and the foliage dies down by late spring to early summer. Its common name Glory-of-the-snow comes from its bloom period, which may include poking up though the late wintertime snow.
Plant bulbs in the fall 3 inches deep and 2-3 inches apart in average well-drained garden soil. They need moisture during the growing season but tolerate dry summers.
Its native habitat includes disturbed locations including fields and meadows.
Uses include rock gardens, beds, ground covers, lawns, and woodland gardens. Spreading like a carpet, they can be utilized as a ground cover. They naturalize easily and also self seed. They can spread easily, but are not considered to be invasive.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues. Nematodes occasionally cause serious issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Gigantea'
2" diameter blue flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Gigantea'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Alba'
White flowers - 'Gigantea'
2" diameter blue flowers
- 'Alba'
- 'Alba', 'Gigantea'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Chionodoxa
- Species:
- luciliae
- Family:
- Asparagaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Adds color to a late winter garden.
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Western Turkey
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinators are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Easy to Grow
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Black Walnut
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Ascending
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- When dry, the capsule will release two or more seeds.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Good Cut
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 1-inch violet-blue star-shaped flowers have white centers and appear in early spring in loose racemes of 2-5
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Produces two semi-erect, slightly recurving basal leaves.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Erect stem.
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Slope/Bank
- Small Space
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cutting Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Attracts:
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
