All About Chionodoxa (Glory Of The Snow)
After a long, dark and cold winter period, a splash of early spring color is welcome in nature. The Chionodoxa is the perfect flower to liven up your winter garden, even when snow is still on the ground. Are you curious about what Glory of the Snow has to offer? In this article, we will tell you everything about this early spring flowering plant.
Quick guide:
- Planting season: Fall
- Place: Full sun or partial shade
- Soil: Well-drained soil
- Water: Once after planting the Chionodoxas. Moderately in spring
- After blooming: Let the plant rest without watering too much. Wait until the foliage begins to turn yellow. Remove foliage or let nature take its course
What Is Glory Of The Snow? A Very Early Spring Flower
Glory of the Snow, also known as ‘Chionodoxa’, is a member of the Lily family and is native to Turkey. These early spring bulbs have star-like flowers, usually with lilac to violet-blue flowers and a white center. Glory of the Snow can also have white or pink flowers. Each bulb bears five to ten blooms on thick, short brown stems, surrounded by deep green strappy leaves. When planted in large quantities, the flowers create a striking carpet of color in your garden.
What Does The Glory Of The Snow Symbolize?
The genus name ‘Chionodoxa’ is derived from the Greek words ‘chion’ (snow) and ‘doxa’ (glory), referring to the glory of seeing this flower bloom in spring, even when snow is still present.
Different Chionodoxa Varieties
There are several varieties of Chionodoxa, of which Chionodoxa Forbesii is the most common. Let’s take a look at other varieties:
- Chionodoxa Lucilea: Similar to Chionodoxa Forbesii, Chionodoxa Lucilea is characterized by its beautiful blue star-shaped flowers with a white center. Luciliae has slightly larger flowers with less pointed petals and shorter stems.
- Chionodoxa Lucilea Alba: This lovely plant has beautiful white flowers, almost snowy in color.
- Chionodoxa Lucilea Violet Beauty: This variety is a wonderful choice if you prefer violet-colored flowers. Violet Beauty has a slightly brighter center.
- Chionodoxa Lucilea Rose Queen: The Rose Queen is a great choice with pink star-shaped flowers.
Can't you decide which of the above you want in your garden? Try our Chionodoxa Lucilea Bestseller Mix, which includes all the bestselling colors of Chionodoxa (blues, purples, pink and white).
Why Should I Grow Glory Of The Snow
- Early spring flower: The Glory of the Snow flower is an early bird, blooming in late winter to early spring, depending on your location.
- Super easy to grow: Growing Chionodoxa is very easy. Once planted, the bulbs require minimal care, making it a beginner-friendly plant.
- Perfect for different gardens: Chionodoxa is a great choice for rock gardens, lawns or under deciduous trees.
- Naturalizes easily: Chionodoxa naturalizes well once established – maybe even self-seeding. When left undisturbed in the ground, they will increase yearly, providing a very pretty carpet of color.
- Loved by pollinators: Thanks to the nectar-rich blooms, the plant is very popular with pollinators such as bees.
- Deer resistant: Deer don’t like Glories of the Snow, which is perfect for areas where these animals are common.
- Combines well with other flowers: The Glory of the Snow flower pairs well with other early spring bulbs, such as Snowdrops, early Daffodils or Narcissus, and Puschkinia.
How does Chionodoxa Naturalize?
Once you have planted Chionodoxa bulbs, and they have had time to mature, the bulbs will naturalize. Little ‘bulblets’ or ‘bulbils’ grow on the sides of the mother bulb, also known as bulb offsets. After this happens, you can choose between two options:
- Leave the bulbs in the ground: Leave them in the ground and let the flowers spread and increase where they have been planted. This is the easiest way.
- Dig the bulbs up: In Fall, after the foliage has died back, you can gently lift the bulbs and detach the offsets, snapping or pulling them away from the parent. Now, you can plant the offsets elsewhere in the garden. Smaller offsets may need to be potted in rich soil and protected over winter, but larger offsets can be planted directly into the ground.
When To Plant Glory Of The Snow?
You plant Chionodoxa bulbs in the fall. Like all flower bulbs, Chionodoxa needs a cold period to develop its roots and prepare for spring. So when fall has arrived, and the ground isn’t frozen yet, it is time to go to your garden and plant the Chionodoxa bulbs. Depending on where you live, the best period is from September to November.
How To Grow Glory Of The Snow?
The Glory of the Snow plant is one of the easiest to grow. For successful planting, follow the step-by-step plan below.
How To Plant Chionodoxa In Your Garden
- Wait until the soil is 60ºF (15°C) or colder. Then, pick a sunny or partial spot with good drainage.
- Dig a hole around 3–4 inches (8-10 cm) deep. When planting bulbs, follow the general rule of thumb and give them at least 2 times the height of the soil above them.
- Drop the bulb in the hole and cover it with soil. Make sure you place the bulb the right way up. Chionodoxa bulbs look like little onions with a slightly pointy head and sometimes wiry roots growing out of the underside. Plant with the pointy head / spike pointing up.
- Leave approximately 3 inches (ca. 8 cm) between each bulb.
- After planting, water well so the soil above the bulbs settles.
How to plant Chionodoxa in pots and containers
- Wait until it’s cold outside, with a soil temperature of 60ºF (15°C).
- Pick a spot in your garden that gets full sun or partial shade.
- Find a well-draining container and fill it with loose soil, ensuring water won’t gather and stay at the bottom.
- Plant the Chionodoxa bulbs about 3 inches (ca. 8 cm) deep and around 2–3 inches (5-7 cm) apart. Place the bulbs in the soil with their pointy ends up. Since containers often have limited space, you can also experiment with placing the bulbs closer together, but make sure they never touch.
- Water well once and wait for the spring. If you live in a colder climate in the north, water well and bring the containers indoors, letting them spend the winter in a cool spot like an unheated garage or basement.
Learn more: How to grow Chionodoxa?
What To Do With Glory Of The Snow After Flowering?
You might wonder what you need to do with the Glories of the Snow after they finish flowering. The answer is to allow the plant to enjoy a rest period after the flowers die down. You don’t have to water much during this period. Leave the foliage until it’s completely withered and yellow, then remove. (Through photosynthesis, the leaves will create nutrients that the bulb will need for its next growing season.) At this point, you can choose to tidy up the plant, remove the old leaves, or let nature take its course. To help these plants multiply, leave them completely undisturbed: no raking or weeding, and no raking of foliage in the fall.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Chionodoxa
When Do Chionodoxa Bloom?
The Chionodoxa Glory of the Snow blooms in late winter to early spring. The exact blooming period varies based on the climate you live in, with flowers appearing earlier in warmer regions and slightly later in cooler areas.
How Long Does Glory Of The Snow Last?
Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa) will return year after year. It’s a naturaliser, meaning it will gradually spread, but it requires some care to thrive. To help these plants multiply, leave them undisturbed—no raking or weeding, and avoid clearing foliage in the fall.
