Chionodoxa (Glory-of-the-snow) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Hyacinthaceae, comprising about six species. This genus is endemic to eastern Mediterranean region, in Crete, Cyprus and Turkey. Its common name is based on its habit of flowering in high alpine zones when the snow melts in spring.
Chionodoxa is a perennial with easy to grow attractive spring-flowering bulbs. It will self-seed and naturalize, providing large patches of colors in the early spring. These lovely plants are dainty enough for raised beds and rock gardens.
Chionodoxa siehei (Siehe's Glory of the snow) is a bulbous perennial from West Turkey. Each bulb produces two leaves measuring up to 12 cm long and 2 cm wide, and one flowering stem up to 10.5 cm long. In early spring, the flowers are produced in a broadly pyramidal raceme, with up to 12 flowers per raceme. The lower flowers face outwards, and the upper ones face upward. Each flower is up to 3 cm wide with each tepal measuring 1.3 cm long. The outer part of the tepals is violet-blue, while the base of the tepal and the stamen filaments are white, producing a white eye. After flowering, the plant goes into dormancy until next spring. Propagation is by seeds.
Chionodoxa luciliae ( Lucile's Glory-of-the-snow) is a bulbous perennial from west Turkey. Each bulb produces two, mid-green leaves of about 20 cm long, and one flowering stem, up to 15 cm. In spring, upward-facing, violet-blue flowers with white centers are produced in 2-3 flowers per stem . Each flower is up to 3.5 cm across. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring.
Chionodoxa forbesii (Forbes' glory-of-the-snow) is a bulbous perennial from south-west Turkey. It has leaves of up to 28 cm long and flowering stems of 20 cm tall. In spring, it bears clusters of up to 12 deep-blue flowers with white centers. The flowers are loved by early-flying insects. After flowering, it goes into dormancy until the next spring.
Chionodoxa forbesii 'Blue Giant', 15 cm tall, bears bold flower clusters of deep, clear blue flowers.
Chionodoxa sardensis (Lesser Glory-of-the-snow) is a bulbuous perennial from west Turkey. Each bulb produces two-three leaves, 14 cm long, and 1.5 cm wide, and one 14 cm long flowering stem. Violet-blue flowers with lighter blue centers are produced in a loose clusters of up to 12 flowers per stem. Each flowers is up to 2.5 cm across, with individual tepal of 1.5 cm long.
Chionodoxa is a hardy, trouble free plant, and prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Propagation is by offsets in summer.
Chionodoxa siehei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chionodoxa_siehei_closeup.jpg Peter coxhead
Chionodoxa siehei http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ChionodoxaSiehei_Garden.jpg Peter coxhead
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chionodoxa_siehei_closeup.jpg
Peter coxhead
