Spring Snowflake Leucojum vernum
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Erinosma vena
- Narcissoleucojum verna
- Nivaria verna
- Phonetic Spelling
- lew-KOH-jum
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Spring snowflake is a flowering bulb in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidoideae) native to central and southern Europe from Belgium to Ukraine. It has naturalized in other parts of Europe and the southeastern United States. Genus name comes from the Greek name for various scented white-flowered plants. The epithet means "of the spring".
Spring snowflake will grow 8 inches to 1.5 feet tall and spreads by bulb offsets over time. It prefers fertile moist soil and will tolerate some boggy conditions. During the growing periods keep the soil consistently moist. Water can be reduced during the summer but apply mulch to retain moisture. Plant bulbs in full sun to partial shade 3 to 4 inches deep in fall. Divide the plants after the leaves have died or in the fall.
The plant will send up several hollow scapes in late winter or early spring with one nodding white bell-shaped flower each. The dark green grass-like leaves appear at the same time. Spring snowflake will die down by summer.
Received the Award of Garden Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society.
Use this spring bulb in a woodland garden, in groups, along ponds or streams or in a container. The bulbs, stems and leaves are highly poisonous if ingested to humans and pets.
Quick ID Hints
- perennial bulb
- dark green, 12-inch long, grass-like leaves
- 3 to 6 white, nodding bell-shaped flowers with 6 tepals per scape
- bloom tips are accented with lime-green
- the flower scape is hollow and 12 to 15 inches long
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: This perennial bulb has no serious insect or disease problems.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Leucojum aestivum
- var. carpathicum
Has yellow markings on the tepals. Native to Carpathians. - var. vernum
Native to Belgium to Ukraine.
Spring blooming; summer dormant. - var. carpathicum
- Leucojum aestivum, var. carpathicum, var. vernum
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Leucojum aestivum
- var. carpathicum
Has yellow markings on the tepals. Native to Carpathians. - var. vernum
Native to Belgium to Ukraine.
Spring blooming; summer dormant. - var. carpathicum
- Leucojum aestivum, var. carpathicum, var. vernum
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Leucojum
- Species:
- vernum
- Family:
- Amaryllidoideae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to Northern Iran
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- Deer and rabbit resistant.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 8 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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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
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Description:
- The fruits are capsular, erect, and dehiscent. They have numerous black seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Umbel
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Flower Petals:
- Tepals
- Flower Description:
- Flowers in late winter to early spring. Several hollow4-10 inch scapes with 1 white nodding bell-shaped flower appear. They have 6 tepals with a greenish mark near the tip.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are erect, grass-like, dark green, and measure 12 inches long and 1 inch wide. The blade is linear and the base is sheath-like. They grow in a vase-shaped clump.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The scape is hollow and stout and 4-10 inches tall.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Pond
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Rock Garden
- Water Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Rabbits
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- Ingestion of the leaves or bulbs will cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, seizures, shock, and potentially lethal.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- alkaloids Lycorine and galantamine
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Roots