In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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October 22, 2007

Chionodoxa, glory-of-the-snow.

For years I’ve heard about this small bulb, and whenever I've heard it mentioned by gardeners, it's always as chionodoxa glory of the snow as though that was its name. Never just Chionodoxa, and never simply glory-of-the-snow, but rather chionodoxa-glory-of-the-snow.

This year I’ve resolved to plant it.

I was surprised to learn that it’s native to the Mediterranean, and an old cottage garden favorite. According to the D. Landreth Seed Company, this little bulb was popular in Victorian gardens and in gardens of the early 20th century. It is among the earliest spring bloomers, and the blooms are delicate, star-shaped, and come in white, pink and blue. Landreth also notes that the plants force well, are hardy and deer-proof, and naturalize. Many of the varieties available today date to the late 1800s. Apparently the hybridizers haven’t tinkered with this bulb.

Plant the small bulbs about four inches deep and four inches apart, according to the Landreth catalog.

I’ll eagerly await spring to see the flowers.

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