Plants
Glory of the Snow
Chionodoxa · Asparagaceae
Glory of the snow is the friendly star among the small spring bulbs: starry flowers in blue-violet with a bright white eye that, unlike its relative the squill, open wide and face upwards. It flowers from late February, naturalises reliably and is wonderfully uncomplicated. We source our plants in nursery quality via the Veiling Rhein-Maas.
- Light
- Sunny to partially shaded; in early spring there is enough light beneath shrubs.
- Watering
- Keep evenly fresh in spring; dry conditions in summer are no problem.
- Care level
- Easy
- Botanical
- Chionodoxa
Botanically Chionodoxa is nowadays mostly placed within the genus Scilla, but the old name has stuck in the trade. The key species are Chionodoxa luciliae and the somewhat larger Chionodoxa forbesii, plus cultivars such as „Blue Giant“, the pink „Pink Giant“ and pure white selections.
The name is to be taken literally: in its natural habitat in the Turkish mountains, glory of the snow flowers right at the edge of the melting snow — so frost and late snowfalls do the flowers no harm here either. Flattened flowers usually right themselves after frosty nights.
It is easy to distinguish from squill by its white flower centre and upward-facing stars; scilla nods with darker blue bells. This makes glory of the snow brighter and friendlier in effect — and the two look wonderful together in the early spring border.
Like all small bulbs it only shows its full effect in numbers: at least ten to twenty bulbs per group, planted six to eight centimetres deep in autumn. Beneath shrubs, in rock gardens and in lawns it seeds around willingly and forms dense flower carpets over the years.
For floristry we use glory of the snow as potted stock in spring bowls and small table decorations with primroses, moss and twigs. For pet households: the plant is considered barely toxic, but to be safe, bulbs never belong in the hands — or mouths — of animals or children.
Is Glory of the Snow toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Mildly irritating
- Cats
- Mildly irritating
- Dogs
- Mildly irritating
Glory of the snow is considered barely to mildly toxic; as with the related squills, the bulbs in particular can contain irritants. Small nibbles usually have no consequences, while larger amounts can irritate the digestive tract — so store bulbs out of reach.
Typical symptoms: After ingestion of larger amounts: drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea.
In an emergency:call the German poison control centre in Bonn on +49 228 19240 (24/7) — for pets, contact an emergency vet directly. This information does not replace medical or veterinary advice.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01Plant in sun to partial shade; the edge of deciduous shrubs is ideal.
- 02Free-draining, humus-rich soil; waterlogging rots the small bulbs.
- 03Set bulbs six to eight centimetres deep in groups in autumn.
- 04Let the foliage die back after flowering and only mow afterwards.
- 05Leave the seed heads standing if you want the stand to naturalise.
- 06No special feeding needed; a little compost in autumn is enough.
Frequently asked
- When does glory of the snow flower?
- Depending on the weather from late February into April, usually alongside crocuses and shortly before the squills. A stand flowers for about three to four weeks.
- What is the difference between glory of the snow and squill?
- Glory of the snow opens its stars flat and upward-facing with a distinct white eye; squill carries nodding, uniformly blue bells. Botanically the two are closely related and are nowadays even placed in the same genus.
- Is glory of the snow toxic to pets?
- It is considered barely toxic, and serious poisonings are not documented. As a precaution treat it like all bulb flowers: do not leave bulbs lying around and do not let animals graze on the plant. If noticeable symptoms occur, ask a vet.
- Does glory of the snow come back every year?
- Yes, in a suitable spot it is fully hardy, long-lived and multiplies by itself via offset bulbs and seed. The only thing that matters is letting the foliage die back undisturbed after flowering.