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Jessie Keith
Liliaceae
Chionodoxa
Chionodoxa, Glory-of-the-Snow
Carpeting the garden with starry flowers very early in the year, these little bulbs from the eastern Mediterranean are wonderful for massing in borders and lawns. Hardy and self-reliant, they produce clusters of blue, violet, pink, or white blooms atop short leafless stems in late winter and early spring. Two short grass-like leaves emerge with the flowers, going dormant within a few weeks. The flowers and leaves grow from small rounded bulbs covered with brown tunics. Plants often self-seed to form large colonies. The nomenclature of these plants is quite confused, so the numerous cultivars often appear under several different names.
These little charmers like well-drained, humus-rich soil and full to partial sun. Plant the bulbs at a depth of two or three times their height. Larger chionodoxas such as C. forbesii are excellent for massing in turf, shrub plantings, perennial borders, and woodland edges. Smaller ones (e.g., C. nana) make lovely rock garden subjects. Bulbs can also be forced in pots for winter bloom. These plants are not bothered by deer or rodents.
9 - 1
3 - 9
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
Bulb or Corm or Tuber
Full Sun, Partial Sun
4"-10" / 10.2cm - 25.4cm
2"-4" / 5.1cm - 10.2cm
Early Spring, Late Winter
Mediterranean, Turkey
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Well Drained
Loam
Drought
Medium
Average Water
Clump-Forming
Spring, Winter
Showy
White, Blue, Pink, Violet
Green
No
Single
Fine
Matte
Alpine, Container, Foundation, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Yes
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