Scilla luciliae (Gigantea Group) 'Alba'

RHS Plant Profile

large-flowered Lucile's glory of the snow 'Alba'

Synonyms

Chionodoxa luciliae var. gigantea 'Alba'
Chionodoxa luciliae (Gigantea Group) 'Alba'

Bulbs

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A perennial bulb, to around 15cm high, with narrow green foliage appearing in early spring. Upright stems produce clusters of white, star-shaped flowers with small yellow centres in early spring. Ideal for pots and window boxes or rockeries

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.1-0.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 1–2 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.1-0.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand

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

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–facing or West–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): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Asparagaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Tufted
Potentially harmful: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Ornamental bulbs - not to be eaten - see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants for further information and useful contact numbers
Genus: Scilla are perennial bulbs with narrow basal leaves and erect stems bearing racemes of star-shaped, flat or bell-shaped flowers which are often blue
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Thrives in any well drained soil in full sun. Ideal for naturalising in grass or a gravel garden. Plant bulbs two to three times their depth. See bulb cultivation and bulbs: naturalising

Propagation

Propagate by division, separating offsets when plants are dormant in summer. See bulb propagation

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Gravel garden
Rock garden
Low Maintenance
Banks and slopes
Flower borders and beds
Underplanting of roses and shrubs

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to anther smuts and virus diseases