Leucojum aestivum

RHS Plant Profile

summer snowflake

Other common names

Loddon lily, St Agnes' flower, St George's violet, summer snowdrop

Synonyms

Leucojum aestivum Nancy Lindsey's best form

Bulbs

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A deciduous bulb to 50cm tall, with long, narrow leaves and up to 8 bell-shaped, green-tipped white flowers on a leafless stem in spring

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Clay, Loam

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0-0.1 metre

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0-0.1 metre
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Clay Loam

Moisture: Moist but well–drained
pH: Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: West–facing or South–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H7

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus: Leucojum are bulbous perennials with narrowly strap-shaped leaves and umbels of bell-shaped white, rarely pink flowers, each tepal often tipped with green
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe to N Iran

How to Grow

Cultivation

Plant dry bulbs 8-10cm (3-4in) deep in autumn. Grow in moist, humus-rich soil

Propagation

Propagate by seed in containers in a cold frame in autumn, or remove offsets once the leaves have died down

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs, snails and narcissus bulb fly

Diseases

Generally disease-free