CHIONODOXA (GLORY OF THE SNOW)

Evening Star, Issue 22382, 4 July 1936, Page 23

CHIONODOXA (GLORY OF THE SNOW)

Tim chionodoxas are very, beautiful early spring dowering bulbs, extremely hardy and well adapted for growing in positions where they can be left undisturbed, with a view to forming colonies or masses, or for the roughest parts of the rock garden (writes “ Lorna,” in the ‘ Manawatu Daily Times’). Onoo they become established they will increase themselves freely from seed, the subsequent seedlings dowering in their second or third year. They will grow in any ordinary fertile soil, but thrive best in deep loam, and favour a sunny situation. They may also be grown in pots for indoor decoration, but they should become thoroughly rooted before removal inside. Chionodoxa lucilae is perhaps the most commonly grown of the several species. It commences to open its starry dowers in early spring, which are an intense blue shading to white in the centre, produced on slender spikes usually three to six dowered, but sometimes as many as 20 dowers are produced. The plant grows about six inches high,. There are several forms of this species, alba, a white form, and rosea with pink dowers, as well as one or two others. Chionodoxa gigantea is a plant with a more robust habit than the former, with taller spikes of dowers and broader leaves. The dowers are large, of a delicate pale blue colour. C. sardensis has rich deep blue flowers. Another dwarf species is called nana, a plant about four inches high with dense spikes of white or pale lilac flowers. The species are all natives of Asia Minor and Crete.