The Snowies: Leucojum, Galanthus, and

Galantheae is a tribe of plants belonging to the subfamily Amaryllidoideae of the Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae).

SNOWFLAKE, LEUCOJUM

                                                                  

Leucojum is a small genus of bulbous plants native to Eurasia belonging to the Amaryllis family, known as snowflakes.. 

Leucojum is a compound of Greek leukos "white" and  ion "violet". Other common names include snowbell, dewdrop, and St. Agnes'

 flower.

LEUCOJUM

     

                                                                                             SNOWDROP, GALANTHUS

SNOWDROP Galanthus 

Galanthus comes from the Greek words gala meaning milk and anthos meaning flower.
Nivalis means snowy.

Galanthus nivalis, commonly called snowdrop, is a bulbous perennial that is native to Europe and southwestern Asia. It has escaped gardens and naturalized in parts of eastern North America. It is a true harbinger of spring that typically blooms from late February to late March in the St. Louis area, often poking its head up through snow cover if present. The common name refers to the supposed resemblance of the flowers to drops of snow. Each flower has six tepals (three spreading outer tepals and three shorter inner tepals).

Easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Prefers moist, humusy soils in part shade. Grows particularly well under deciduous trees where exposure to the sun is full in early spring but gradually changes to part shade as the trees leaf out. Also prefers cool climates, and is somewhat short lived when grown south of USDA Zone 7. Plant bulbs 2-3” deep and space 2-3” apart in fall. In optimum growing conditions, it naturalizes well by both self-seeding and bulb offsets. Allow foliage to yellow before removing it from garden areas. If left alone, foliage disappears by late spring as bulbs go dormant.

Best massed in sweeping drifts in areas where they can naturalize, such as woodland margins or in lawns under large deciduous trees. Also effective in groupings in rock gardens, border fronts, in front of flowering shrubs or along walks or paths. Mix with other early flowering bulbs such as Eranthis (winter aconite).

                                                                                             SNOWFLAKES, ACIS

Acis is a genus of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllioideae). The genus consists of nine species distributed in Europe and Northern Africa. Acis was previously included in Leucojum; both genera are known as snowflakes.

REFERENCES.                                          

1. A Gardener’s Guide to Snowdrops: Second Edition by Freda Cox Crowood Press 2019.
2. A Plant Lover’s Guide to Snowdrops by Naomi Slade Timber Press 2014.
3. The Galanthophiles: 160 Years of Snowdrop Devotees by Jane Kilpatrick and Jennifer Harmer Orphans Publishing 2018.
4. Snowdrops: A Monograph of Cultivated Galanthus by Matt Bishop, Aaron Davis, and John Grimshaw Timber Press 2006.
5. Some Snowdrops: A Photographic Ramble by Anne C. Repnow, Davidia Press.  2020.
6. Stern, F C. Snowdrops and Snowflakes: A Study of the Genera Galanthus and Leucojum. London: The Royal Horticultural Society, 1956. Print.  
7. Wareham. Anne, Garden Rant. February 4, 2022. https://gardenrant.com/2022/02/snowdrops.html. 
8. "Joe Sharman, the ‘King of Snowdrops’, and the tale of the most expensive snowdrop ever sold", Country Life, February 6, 2021. Monksilver Nursery.  
9. Carolyn's Shade Garden, Snowdrop Catalog 2022.
10. "The Mysterious Appeal of the Dainty Snowdrop." The Washington Post, February 4, 2019.