Grow Guide: Scilla luciliae (Glory-of-the-Snow)
🌸 Botanical Name: Scilla luciliae (formerly Chionodoxa luciliae)
🌍 Common Name: Glory-of-the-Snow
🌼 Flowering Time
- Months: February – April
- Details: One of the earliest spring-flowering bulbs, often appearing through the last frost.
🌱 Soil Type
- Well-drained, humus-rich soil
- Prefers neutral to slightly alkaline conditions but tolerates slightly acidic soils
- Avoid waterlogged areas
❄️ Hardiness
- USDA Zones: 3–8
- UK Hardiness: H5 (hardy in most parts of the UK)
- Fully frost hardy and naturalizes well
☀️ Position & Light Requirements
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Best Locations: Under deciduous trees, borders, rock gardens, and lawns
- Tolerates light shade but flowers best in brighter spots
🌿 Planting & Care
✔ Planting Time: Autumn (September – November)
✔ Depth: 5–8cm (2–3 inches) deep
✔ Spacing: 5–10cm apart
✔ Watering: Minimal; only during dry periods in the first year
✔ Feeding: Not necessary but benefits from a light mulch of compost in autumn
🌱 Propagation
1️⃣ By Bulb Offsets:
- Scilla luciliae naturally multiplies by producing small offsets around the main bulb.
- Best lifted and divided in late summer when dormant.
- Carefully separate offsets and replant immediately at the same depth.
2️⃣ By Seed:
- Seeds can be collected after flowering and sown in autumn.
- Sow directly into well-drained soil or pots with a free-draining seed mix.
- Germination may take a year or more, and plants may take 3–5 years to flower.
🌿 Additional Tips
- Naturalizes well – multiplies each year, creating a stunning carpet of flowers.
- Low maintenance – no deadheading needed; leaves should die back naturally.
- Perfect companion for crocuses, snowdrops, and early daffodils.
