Chionodoxa luciliae – Chionodoxa gigantea- Glory of the Snow –

Description

Chionodoxa – Glory of the Snow – There are about 6 species of small, bulbous perennials, in this genus. They occur from open mountain sides and forest mountains in Crete, Western Turkey, and Cyprus. They bear racemes of star shaped flowers with white centers in late winter and early spring, above linear, sometimes channeled, mid green, basal leaves, to 11″ long. Grow in a rock garden, raised bed, or trough, most may also be grown under shrubs or trees, where they can spread. They self seed freely. Plant bulbs 3″ deep in autumn, in well drained soil in full sun or light shade. C. luciliae – C. gigantea – This bulbous perennial from Western Turkey grows 6″ tall. It produces often recurved leaves, 3-8″ long. In early spring it bears racemes of up to 3 per stem, star shaped, blue flowers, to 3/4″ across, with small white centers. Similar to C. forbesii but bears fewer flowers, with slightly wider tepals. Zones 3-9