St. Agnes' Flower, Leucojum vernum

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.