Glory-of-the-Snow

This tiny purple flower named Chionodoxa, more commonly known as Glory-of-the-Snow, is popping up in two of our flowerbeds here at Windy Hill. Hundreds of them spring up every year from hardy, little bulbs planted by the farm’s previous owner many years ago.

Interesting Features

The name, Chionodoxa, comes from two ancient Greek words, chion meaning snow, and doxa meaning glory.

The Glory-of-the-Snow flowers are only about an inch wide and very low to the ground, each reaching less than 4” in height. They have 6 star-shaped petals and the anthers of the stamens are yellow, with pale yellow pollen. Look closely because the stamens have flattened stalks or filaments, which resemble a cup in the center of the flower.

Chionodoxa Colors

Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs are available in blue, pink, and white shades and create a beautiful carpet in very early Spring. Ours bloomed the last week of March this year in Pennsylvania.

How To Grow

The Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs prefer to be planted in fall about 3” deep and 2-3” apart. Place them in the ground with their pointy ends up. They enjoy ample sunlight and well-drained soil and look spectacular covering hillsides or sweeping drifts. They are hardy nearly everywhere from Zone 3 to Zone 9 and they naturalize very well for your enjoyment year after year.

Give some a try if you don’t see them in your yard already. I’ve provided links just under the color photos for your convenience. And please comment below if you grow these already and love them as much as I do. Thank you.