Leucojum aestivum (Summer Snowflake)
Leucojum aestivum, although called ‘Summer Snowflake’, flowers in mid-spring and boasts 4-8 white, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped tepals, dangling from each long, fairly sturdy flower stem. As an added bonus, the flowers are softly chocolate-scented!
Perhaps almost as useful as Narcissus are snowflakes. Leucojum aestivum, although called 'Summer Snowflake', flowers in mid-spring and then goes dormant during summer. It features 4 to 8 white, nodding, bell-shaped flowers with green-tipped tepals, dangling from each long, fairly sturdy flower stem. The ensemble is nicely complemented by clumps of dark grassy green leaves. As an added bonus, the flowers are softly chocolate-scented!
- Rising to 14 – 18 inches tall (35 – 45 cm), this white beauty is an easy grower, naturalizes well, and will multiply over time. It tolerates boggy spots and will do well on the edges of natural ponds.
- Easily grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade.
- Lovely in beds, borders, rock gardens, under shrubs or massed under trees. Spectacular in large sweeping drifts.
- Mixes beautifully with other spring flowering bulbs. Plant in groups of 15 bulbs (at least) to achieve a nice effect.
- Deer and rabbit resistant
- 'Gravetye Giant' has large flowers on stems that easily reach a length of 20 – 24 inches (50 – 60 cm). A better variety than its parent!
Requirements
| Hardiness | 3 – 9 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones | 1 – 9 |
| Climate Zones | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 |
| Plant Type | Bulbs |
| Plant Family | Leucojum – Snowflakes |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Mid) |
| Height | 1' – 2' (30cm – 60cm) |
| Spread | 2" – 3" (5cm – 7cm) |
| Spacing | 3″ (7cm) |
| Depth | 5" (12cm) |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam |
| Soil pH | Acid, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy |
| Tolerance | Clay Soil, Deer, Rabbit |
| Garden Uses | Beds and Borders, Ponds and Streams, Underplanting Roses and Shrubs |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden |