Summer Snowflake Leucojum aestivum
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- lew-KOH-jum ES-tih-vum
- Description
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This plant is a bulbous perennial that grows up to 24" tall. Despite the common name of Summer Snowflake, the plant's drooping, white, green-tipped flowers bloom mid-spring or late winter rather than summer. Compared to G. nivalis, this plant has tepals of equivalent size. This plant spreads readily and is often planted in lawns as well as rock gardens, under deciduous trees, in shrub borders, as ground cover, in woodland gardens, and in flower beds. It does best when it is planted in mass. This plant is tolerant of heavy deciduous shade, tolerates drought during dormancy, and needs moisture during its growth period. This plant is also tolerant of wet and clay soils. This plant is seldom damaged by deer. Plant in autumn, bury bulbs 2-4" deep and space 6" apart.
Quick ID Hints:
- 6 tepals of equivalent length with green marks at the apex
- Linear, straplike leaves grow up to 24" tall.
- Scape has 2-5 nodding, bell-shaped, white flowers; ovaries are inferior
- Scape terminates have spathe of 1 green bract
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Gravetye Giant'
- 'Gravetye Giant'
- 'Gravetye Giant'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Gravetye Giant'
- 'Gravetye Giant'
- 'Gravetye Giant'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Leucojum
- Species:
- aestivum
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to North Iran
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Ground Cover
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Spreading
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- This plant produces capsules.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- 4-5 petals/rays
- 6 petals/rays
- 7 - 20 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Flowers are campanulate, nodding, faintly scented, and have 2-7 petals. Pedicels are short and slender. There are 6 perianth segments that are broad-oblong, entire, mucronate, less than an inch in size, and have an apical green mark. They are drooping, white, and bloom in mid-spring.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are basal, linear, grow between 2-3" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Scapes are stout, hollow, and are terminated by a spathe of 1 membrance bract.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Heavy Shade
- Wet Soil
