Famous for its early bloom, the Glory of the snow is a spring flower known to be amongst the first annual flowers to show its flowering. Its botanical name is Chionodoxa luciliae, but there are also botanical classifications or specialty books in which the Glory of the Snow is referred to as the Chionodoxa Forbesii or the Chionodoxa gigantea. The root of the Glory of the Snow is bulbous, which means the flower is quite resistant and can survive even to lower temperatures.
The Glory of the Snow originates from the Mediterranean part of Turkey, even if its name implies it’s originating from alpine regions or parts of the world characterized by low temperatures and harsh environments. The flower develops well in places with partial shade or in hardiness zones, being quite unpretentious to certain soils or weather conditions. The flower can actually bloom in the snow, on areas which are still covered in snow but feeling slowly the warmth of the spring.
The Glory of the Snow can reach up to 6 inches in height and it represents a beautiful white flower, with its flowering composed of six petals usually, and forming the shape of a star. The white color is not the only color on which a Glory of the Snow can occur, as there is also recognized a particular specie of this genus occurring on pink and which goes by the name of Chionodoxa Forbesii Pink Giant. A combination between white and pink, with shades of light blue can also occur and this type is also appreciated.
The Glory of the Snown has become famous for its beautiful and innocent appearance and so, the flower has started to become more and more demanded on the European market of flowers and worldwide as well. The most cultivated varieties of this flower are the bluish variety, the pink variety of the Chionodoxa Forbesii Pink Giant and also the most common and most demanded, the Chionodoxa Forbesii Alba. People are usually intrigued on how a delicate flower such as the Glory of the Snow can survive such low temperatures and even snow. But as we all know, beautiful things are always born out of contradictions.
The small delicate petals of the Glory of the Snow are held together by a central bulb, usually of a light color, white or yellowish. The stem of the Glory of the Snow is just as delicate as the whole appearance of the flower and it’s brown-colored.
Present in almost all catalogues of floral arrangements, the Glory of the Snow sells pretty good and you can find this flower available at florists worldwide. If you’re planning on cultivate it in your own garden, there’s nothing simpler, as it’s a flower used to shade and low temperatures. It would make a perfect bordering plant and it would surely ornament your garden in an elegant and stylish manner.
The botanical name of the Glory of the Snow, Chionodoxa luciliae, is known to be given in the honor of the mother of the famous botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier, Lucile Butini.
Glory of the Snow Pictures Gallery
