Growing Guide
 
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Summer Snowflake

Spring-Flowering Bulb

Also known as Meadow Snowflake
Leucojum aestivum
Amaryllidaceae Family

Up to 2 to 3 feet tall, Summer Snowflakes provide an attractive background to low-growing spring bulbs. The plants bear stalks of pendulous bell-like white blooms in mid-spring, just a few weeks after Spring Snowflakes.

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Site Characteristics
Sunlight:
  • full sun
  • part shade
Prefers full sun, but grows well in bright areas with little direct sun.

Soil conditions:

  • requires well-drained soil
Prefers rich, moist but well-drained soil. Do not let soil dry out.

Hardiness zones:

  • 4 to 9
Plant Traits

Lifecycle: perennial

Ease-of-care: easy

Height: 1.5 to 3 feet

Most grow to 2 feet tall. 'Gravetye Giant' grows up to 3 feet tall.

Spread: 0.25 to 0.5 feet

Bloom time: mid-spring

Flower color:

  • green
  • white

Blooms are white with green-tipped petals.

Foliage color: medium green

Foliage texture: medium

Shape:

  • upright
  • grass-like

Shape in flower:

  • flower stalks with flowers as cups
  • flower stalks with flowers hanging downward

Bell-like blooms hang from erect flower stems.

Special Considerations
Special characteristics:
  • non-aggressive
  • non-invasive
  • not native to North America - Native to Europe
Growing Information
How to plant:

Propagate by division or separation - Plant bulbs 3 to 4 inches deep in fall. Divide the plants after leaves have died or in the fall.

Maintenance and care:
Keep soil moist during the growing season.

More growing information: How to Grow Bulbs

Pests:
Slugs and snails
Narcissus bulb fly
Varieties
"Gravetye Giant': grows up to 3 feet tall with large white blooms in sprays of 3 to 5 per stem.