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Glory of the Snow

Scilla luciliae (SIL-la loo-SIL-ee-eye)

Family: Asparagaceae Unknown Groundcover (<1 ft)

Glory-in-the-Snow is an early spring blooming bulb with star-shaped blue-purple or pink flowers. Swiss botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier honored his wife Lucille. They bloom February to March and the foliage dies down by late spring to early summer. Its common name Glory-of-the-snow comes from its bloom period, which may include poking up though the late wintertime snow. Plant bulbs in the fall 3 inches deep and 2-3 inches apart in average well-drained garden soil. They need moisture during the growing season but tolerate dry summers. Its native habitat includes disturbed locations including fields and meadows. Uses include rock gardens, beds, ground covers, lawns, and woodland gardens. Spreading like a carpet, they can be utilized as a ground cover. They naturalize easily and also self seed. They can spread easily, but are not considered to be invasive. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious issues. Nematodes occasionally cause serious issues. More information on Scilla .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 59 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 5 - Groundcover (<1 ft) Optimal soil pH Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Often confused with Scilla luciliae

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb
Life cycle
Bulb; Perennial
USDA zones
3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Clumping; Erect
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Linear; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Produces two semi-erect, slightly recurving basal leaves.
Flower color
Blue; Pink; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
1-inch violet-blue to pink, star-shaped flowers have white centers and appear in early spring in loose racemes of 2-5
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
When dry, the capsule will release two or more seeds.
Stem detail
Erect stem.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Western Turkey
Wildlife value
Pollinators are attracted to the flowers.
Attracts
Pollinators
Play value
Attractive Flowers; Attracts Pollinators; Easy to Grow
Food & Medicine
Fruit type
Capsule

Uses (ethnobotany)

Adds color to a late winter garden.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Lawn; Meadow; Naturalized Area; Patio; Slope/Bank; Small Space; Walkways; Woodland
Landscape theme
Pollinator Garden; Rock Garden
Design feature
Border; Mass Planting
Garden tags
#bulb #rock garden #flowers early spring #drought tolerant #blue flowers #mass planting #lilac flowers #perennial #naturalized area #perennial bulbs #self-seeding #deer resistant #pollinator garden #clumping #pollinator plant #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Narcissus Bulb Fly
Resistant to
Deer; Drought
Particularly resistant to
Black Walnut
Propagation
Division; Seed

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.