Chionodoxa forbesii
- Common Name: Glory of the snow
- Height: 10 to 15 cm
- Spread: 10 cm
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Colour: Blue in colour with white centres
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Soil Moisture: Average
- Plant Uses: Alpine and Rock, Attracts Bees, Deer Resistant, Rabbit Resistant, Woodland
- Zone: 4A, 4b
- Recommended: Also available in cultivars: 'Pink Giant', with pink petals and a white centre, and 'Alba', with white petals.
- Description:
Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa forbesii) is a direct translation of the Greek words in its botanical name, chion (snow) and doxa (glory). The stalks are topped with loose racemes of up to 12 outward facing flowers. Each plant has two narrow, upright basal leaves, which die down soon after flowering and seeding, making them relatively unobtrusive.
This prairie-hardy bulb establishes itself well and spreads readily through offsets and
self-seeding and does well in part shade and full sun. - Other: The bees love it. One can support the local pollinators by planting some, which, given their bloom time, provides an early source of pollen. It is well-suited to being planted in drifts in woodland gardens (plant at least 15 bulbs together) and in rock gardens. Chionodoxa mixes easily with other spring bulbs and perennials.
