Chionodoxa

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'Glory of the Snow'. This is an easily grown genus from the middle east, extending west as far as Crete. Comprising of of 6 or 7 species, valuable for early spring colour especially in cold gardens.

They are relatively undemanding as to soil type but do appreciate cool, moist soils that do not become hot and dry in the summer. These are cool, mountain-top plants which grow and flower at the edge of melting snow and should be treated accordingly, they are not lowland Mediterranean species and will do better without a hot dry "bake" in the summer.

Order from Autumn list only.

Chionodoxa forbesii Aethra

This is a brand new Chionodoxa which originated in the garden of Dr Seisums as a single plant amidst thousands of self-seeding gigantea, luciliae and tmoli (all {incorrect} names are of the trade). Dr Speta has diagnosed it as forbesii or a possible hybrid of forbesii with Scilla bifolia.

It has been increased clonally (seedlings cannot validly bear the name, only vegetative offspring). The segments are wider than normal for forbesii and they are broadly overlapping, especially when young.

The flowers are of an intriguing blue colour. At first it made just 1 bloom per plant, with time the larger bulbs make up to 4 per spike. It represents a wonderful new Chionodoxa cultivar and promises to be a very good garden plant.

Aethra was one of the Oceanids, the 3000 daughters of Oceanus and Tethys. Somehow being one of the 3000 daughters of two sea deities (albeit brother and sister) summed up the history of the plant, found amongst thousands of seedlings.

Ordinary garden soil, with a good humus content and full sun is perfect for this perfectly growable but rare new cultivar. Introduced for the first time anywhere, by us, 2012.


Chionodoxa forbesii Aethra (Price is per bulb)chiforaet	£13.50
Flowering sized, clonally increased bulbs. Price is each. Introduced 2012. Large view

Chionodoxa forbesii Zwanenburg

A taller, stronger selection of the typical species with 20cm tall stems holding many, (rather than “several”) white centred palest blue cups, noticeably bigger and also better for garden use.


Chionodoxa forbesii Zwanenburg (Price is per bulb)chiforzwa	£2.00
Large view

Chionodoxa luciliae alba

Nowhere does the name Glory of the Snow seem more appropriate than for this stunning, pure white form of the normally blue Chionodoxa which bears 3-5 (but up to 10) flowers on each of its stems, very early in the year. Each pure white, crystalline bloom has a tiny golden centre.

Selected by Barr and Son in 1885 it gained an AM in 1897.


Chionodoxa luciliae alba (Price is per 10 bulbs)chilucalb	£1.30
Large view