Glory of the snow

What does Glory of the snow look like?

Glory of the snow plants are short, bulbous perennials. Each bulb sends up two leaves, which are narrow at the base and broader at the tip. The flowers are star-shaped with tepals (petal-like segments) joined at the base, and come in blue, white, pink, or purple. The center of the flower has flattened, often white filaments and yellow anthers. These blooms appear early in spring, sometimes while snow is still on the ground.

Where does Glory of the snow come from?

This group is native to the eastern Mediterranean, mainly Crete, Cyprus, and parts of Turkey. It was first described as the genus Chionodoxa in 1844, but is now treated as a section within Scilla. The name 'glory of the snow' refers to its habit of flowering as the snow melts in alpine regions. Over time, these bulbs have been grown in gardens and have naturalized in places like the UK, Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands.

When and how Glory of the snow blooms

Glory of the snow grows from small bulbs planted in late summer or early autumn, about 8–10 cm deep. They need light during their growing season but can be planted under deciduous trees, as their leaves die back after flowering. The plants flower early in spring, with some species blooming before others. They can spread by seed and form carpets of color in gardens.

How Glory of the snow is used

These flowers are valued as ornamentals for early spring color in gardens and parks. Their ability to bloom as snow melts makes them a favorite for naturalizing in lawns or under trees. They are sold as dry bulbs and are easy to grow in temperate climates. Some species and cultivars have received horticultural awards for their garden performance.

Kinds of Glory of the snow

There are several species and forms, including Scilla forbesii (formerly Chionodoxa forbesii), Scilla luciliae, Scilla sardensis, Scilla cretica, Scilla lochiae, and Scilla nana. Some, like S. forbesii, come in blue, pink, or white forms. The number of recognized species has changed over time, and some names are now considered synonyms. Gardeners may find bulbs labeled under older names.

What Glory of the snow means

Glory of the snow is prized for its early spring bloom and is often used to signal the end of winter in gardens. Several species have won the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The flowers are not tied to any specific symbolism or religious use in the sources, but their early bloom is celebrated by gardeners for bringing color after winter.

Questions people ask about Glory of the snow

Good reading and sources

• USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
• Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
• Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
• Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database

• Scilla sect. Chionodoxa on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data