This perennial, glory of the snow or Scilla luciliae gets its name because it blooms so early in the spring or late winter that the light blue blossoms sometimes appear poking up through the snow. Grown from bulbs, it tolerates full sun to partial shade and can be used as a cut flower.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Scilla luciliae is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae. It is referred to by the common names Bossier’s glory-of-the-snow or Lucile’s glory-of-the-snow, and is a bulbous perennial from western Turkey that flowers in early spring. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring. The specific epithet is in honour of Lucile, the wife of the Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier (1810-1885). It belongs to a group of Scilla species that were formerly put in a separate genus, Chionodoxa, and may now be treated as Scilla sect. Chionodoxa.
Scilla luciliae is native to western Turkey. It has a restricted distribution in the Mahmut Mountain in İzmir Province. Almost all species that are very frost-hardy belong to the Hyacinthaceae family and originate in the region of the Mediterranean from Turkey to Asia.
It is a low-maintenance naturalizer that can grow in zones 3 to 8. Its blossom has a white center with lilac blue to violet blue petals. Like all members of the former genus Chionodoxa, the bases of the stamens are flattened and closely clustered in the middle of the flower.
In other species of Scilla, the stamens are not flattened or clustered together.
Each bulb produces two leaves, up to 8 cm long and 2 cm wide, and at most one flowering stem, up to 10 cm long. The flowers are produced in a loose pyramidal raceme, with 2–3 flowers per stem, which face upwards. Each flower is up to 3.5 cm across. The base of each tepal is white (as are the stamen filaments), producing a white ‘eye’. The outer part of the tepals is violet-blue. The species can be distinguished from the commonest species grown in gardens, S. forbesii, by the much smaller number of slightly larger flowers per stem.
It is a spring ephemeral as it disappears after blooming until the following spring, according to the Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG).
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Glory of the snow grows best in full sun conditions but you can also plant it in locations that receive partial sun.
For healthy growth and flowering, the plant should receive at least four to six hours of direct sun.
Temperature and Humidity
This cold-hardy perennial does best in seasonal climates that experience a period of cooler temperatures, which is essential for the bulb’s dormancy period. In regions with warmer temperatures and higher humidity levels, a garden location that shields the plant from the most intense afternoon sun is more beneficial.
Watering
Glory of the snow prefers moist soil conditions but is drought-tolerant once established. If rainfall is received regularly, you may not need to water the plant regularly. Beware of overly saturating the soil, which can cause the bulb to rot.
Soil
A range of soil conditions are suitable for glory of the snow, including loamy and clay soil types. The soil should be moist but have sufficient drainage to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged. A neutral to slightly acidic soil pH level is best.
Fertilizing
While fertilizer isn’t always necessary for healthy growth and flowering, you can support the plant with a flower fertilizer if desired in the later winter or early spring. Apply a well-balanced formula, like 10-10-10, to the plant’s early growth—making sure to do so before the plant blooms.
Propagation
Glory of the snow plants produce offset bulbs, so propagation by division is the most common way to thin a large stand of the plants or to relocate new specimens to other areas of your garden or landscape.
It’s best to propagate in the fall, so the newly planted bulb can enter dormancy over the winter before generating new growth the following spring. Here’s how you can propagate glory of the snow:
- Use a trowel to gently dig around the plant to be divided. Lift it from the soil and brush off the excess dirt so you can clearly identify the main bulb and the offsets.
- Grasp the offset bulbs and break them loose from the main bulb.
- Dig a hole 3 to 4 inches deep and place the bulb in the hole, with the pointed end downward. Cover the hole with dirt. Note: If you’re planting multiple bulbs, separate each hole by about 4 inches.
- Water the bulb thoroughly.
Pests and Diseases
The good news is that glory of the snow is typically very easy to care for, with few problems from pests or diseases.
However, too much or too little moisture can cause problems, which will primarily show up in the appearance of the plant’s foliage.
Wilting leaves or stems
If the upright flower stems or grass-like foliage at the base of the plant begin to wilt, it’s a likely sign of overwatering.
Although the glory of the snow prefers moist soil conditions, too much water or excessive humidity can cause the bulb to rot, leading to wilting leaves and stems. To remedy the situation, withhold water or take steps to improve drainage by amending the soil.
III. Uses and Benefits
Glory of the snow is likely to be one of the earliest plants to bloom in your garden, flowering from February to March or April, depending on climate conditions. This makes the plant a popular pick for gardeners seeking an attractive spring perennial. Aesthetic appeal is the only reason to plant glory of the snow, since the flowers themselves have no fragrance.
IV. Types of Glory of the Snow
- Chionodoxa lucilae ‘Pink Giant’: As the cultivar name suggests, this variety features pink blossoms and grows taller than other types of glory of the snow, reaching a height of 6 inches.
- Chionodoxa lucilae ‘Alba’: Many glory of the snow plants have blue petals that fade to white towards the center of the blossom, but this cultivar is known for its pure white petals.
- Chionodoxa lucilae ‘Gigantea’: This glory of the snow variety stands out for its larger-than-usual blue flowers, which measure about two inches in diameter.
Find Where to Buy the Best Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa luciliae)
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