Plant of the Weekend: Chionodoxa (Glory-of-the-Snow)
September 25, 2011 // Comments Off
Chionodoxa is a member of the same family as the beautiful hyacinth. It is a delicate-looking, yet hardy plant, grown from a bulb. When you plant Chionodoxa bulbs in the fall, you can expect a gorgeous little plant in the early spring.
Common name: Glory-of-the-snow
Botanical name: Chionodoxa
Family: Asparagaceae
Plant type: Perennial bulb
Hardiness zone: USDA: 4-8 (with some varieties growing in zones 3 and 9) Sunset: A2, A3; 1-7, 14-20
Origin: The alpine meadows of Crete, Cyprus, and Turkey
Growth rate: Fast
Habit: Herbaceous, spreading
Height: 3-6″
Spread: 3-6″
Sunlight: Full sun (it can take partial shade)
Blooms: Flowers can be blue, white, off-white, blue-violet, and pink. Petals are flattened and form a dainty six-point star shape.
Foliage: Leaves are herbaceous and dark green to almost black.
Soil and care: Chionodoxa prefer neutrally Ph balanced soil which must be kept moist. Do not let the soil dry out completely between watering. Other than watering, they do not require special care.
Plant your bulbs in late summer or early autumn, in rich well-drained soil. Plant them between 3 and 4 inches deep and 3 inches apart. They will pop out and bloom in early spring. May need some moisture during dormancy in summer if it’s hot and dry. Divide and transplant in fall when bloom quality and quantity declines. Chionodoxa may also increase from self-seeding.
Uses: Great for borders, in containers, and flowing over hills. Chionodoxa makes wonderful groundcover as it seeds freely and spreads quickly. It can also be grown in rock gardens, and under shrubs and deciduous trees, as long as it gets enough filtered light.
Because parts of the Chionodoxa are poisonous when ingested, they are avoided by rodents, deer, and many other pests.
Photo credit: Extracted from Gardening Info Zone
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