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Plant Focus: Glory of the snow

March 5, 2019 • Leave a Comment

Chionodoxa ‘Pink Giant’ (Photo: Wayside Gardens) — *Chionodoxa* ‘Pink Giant’ (Photo: Wayside Gardens)

By George Papadelis

As spring approaches, gardeners seek the familiar signs of yet another growing season. Even before trees produce their leaves and the spring equinox arrives, the garden can be alive with color from early blooming bulbs. In February, some warming can bring up an occasional flower or two, but by March, color is almost guaranteed through the planting of crocus, snowdrops, or this month’s featured plant, glory of the snow (Chionodoxa).

Chionodoxa luciliae (Photo: Netherlands Flower Bulb Info. Center) — *Chionodoxa luciliae* (Photo: Netherlands Flower Bulb Info. Center)

By late March (sometimes early April), glory of the snow produces 6 to 10 one-inch wide single flowers that last 3 to 4 weeks. Besides their vibrant color, these starry flowers are unique in that each blossom has a distinct white center. The species Chionodoxa forbesii (formerly C. luciliae) has glowing blue flowers, while the variety ‘Pink Giant’ has rosy-pink blooms. Both grow 6 to 10 inches tall. Since the flowers are small, a planting of 20 to 50 bulbs would provide the best show. This is also economically practical since the bulbs are usually inexpensive.

*Chionodoxa gigantea* (Photo: Netherlands Flower Bulb Info. Center)

Glory of the snow is very easy to grow and amongst the hardiest of all bulbs. Only well-drained soil and some sun are required for good performance. Bulbs should be planted with bulb fertilizer in the fall about 3 inches deep and 3 to 4 inches apart. Glory of the snow self-sows and divides itself very freely to form self-sustaining clumps that may last effortlessly for years. However, best results occur if the younger bulbs or “offsets” are dug up in May and replanted with fresh soil, fertilizer, and adequate space.

The only pest problem may be a hungry squirrel looking for a freshly planted snack. If this is a threat in your garden, some chicken wire buried above the bulbs usually does the trick.

Plant glory of the snow in clumps around trees, in the rock garden, or even in your lawn. It works wonderfully alone or in combination with other spring-blooming bulbs. Later-blooming bulbs such as tulips can also be placed in the same planting hole since they require deeper planting depths of 6 to 10 inches. Glory of the snow thrives in woodland situations if tree leaves are shredded, mulched, or raked off to assist them in spring emergence.

This tiny spring treasure is a must for any garden because of its versatility, performance, and durability. Try it almost anywhere! Just a few minutes of digging in the fall will allow glory of the snow to grace you with its presence for many years to come.

Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa)

Pronunciation: ky-on-oh-DOK-suh

Plant Type: Bulb

Plant Size: 5-10 inches tall

Flower Color: Rich blue with white centers (most common); also pink, white

Flower Size: 1 inch wide

Bloom Period: Late March – Early April

Leaves: Narrow, upright sprays

Light: Sun-light shade

Soil: Well-drained

Hardiness: Zone 3

Uses: Border, woodland areas, rock garden, nauralizer, lawn

Remarks: Plant in the fall, 3-4 inches deep

Selecting plants for the evening garden

February 21, 2019 • Leave a Comment

I work all day and I am home only in the evenings. What flowers can I plant that will bloom at night and maybe even have fragrance?

An evening garden relies heavily on flowers that are white or light-colored so they will be visible even on a moonless night. Moonlight really illuminates the flowers and foliage, making the garden at night a different, magical experience. Nighttime flowers are exactly that—they bloom in the evening and remain closed during the daytime. These flowers often give off beautiful, fragrant scents, and the evening dew helps intensify those scents. Even if some of the flowers do bloom during the day, it is in the evening when they give off their headiest fragrance. Scent in the evening somehow carries farther than in the daytime, and it is this scent that attracts the nighttime moth pollinators.

There are quite a few plants that are suitable for evening gardens. Dusty miller’s leaves range from gray-green to silvery white. Trumpet and oriental lilies give off a heady smell. Heliotrope, which also comes in a creamy white that will shine at night, gives off a sweet vanilla scent. Alyssum has tiny white flowers and a honey-like scent, making it good for pots and the front of borders. Impatiens also comes in white, and when planted in a pot or on a deck, it can reflect light from the moon to create a beautiful effect. Peonies, roses and hydrangeas also come in bright whites and yellows and will add much beauty to the evening garden.

A favorite flower for an evening garden would be moonflower. These are annual vines that thrive in hot weather. It is similar to the morning glory except it blooms at night. Plant it close to your seating area so you can watch its large, white blossoms unfold in minutes in the early evening—spectacular! The almost pure white blossoms are fragrant all evening and just illuminate the garden.

Pink evening primrose is another good choice. It has four satiny, heart-shaped petals that form open cups with long stamens. When they open, the blossoms are a soft, clear white that fade into pink as the flowers mature. Their scent is reminiscent of a blend of honeysuckle and lemon custard. Nicotiana is another sweet-scented flower whose blossoms close in the daytime but open in the late afternoon and fill the air with jasmine-like aroma. Make sure to include fragrant hostas like H. plantaginea, ‘Royal Standard,’ ‘Honey Bells,’ ‘Tokudama Aureonebulosa,’ ‘Sweet Standard,’ and ‘Fragrant Bouquet.’

Bright foliage is another way to create evening beauty in the garden. Lamium is a beautiful groundcover with two-toned, white-centered leaves. Lamb’s ears are another good plant for evening foliage. Other plants worth considering are white-flowering shrubs, and annuals like dame’s rocket, tuberose, petunia and dianthus.

To give your evening garden an extra dimension, add some solar or candle lights here and there, plus try a water feature. Even if it is a small fountain, the sound of water really makes the evening even more magical. The visual impact of bright whites, the scents of flowers and the sound of the evening all combine to make the evening garden a place that will calm and sooth the spirit.

Groundcover that handles foot traffic

January 28, 2019 • Leave a Comment

I would like to grow a fast-growing groundcover that is very short and can withstand being walked upon often and still look good. Are there any out there that survive in zone 4 and thrive in part sun to full shade?

First, you need to determine what “walked upon often” means in terms of frequency. Is it “light” (once or twice per day), “moderate” (about 6 times a day), or “heavy” (dozens of times per day)? The frequency of the daily traffic narrows the choices to those that can survive that impact. Second, you are limited in the number of hours of sun, and you want a fast grower. You may have to combine two or three species to satisfy all your criteria. Also remember that even though they are groundcovers, they will have tiny flowers that will call out to various insects and pollinators. An unwary bare foot could come away with an unpleasant sting.

Light traffic. Tiny creeping sedums make great groundcovers. They need little water and attention. They do grow moderately quickly if given the sunny section of your path. Sedum requieni will take the heaviest foot traffic in this group. Bugleweed (Ajuga) varieties do well in sun or shade. Ajuga “Chocolate Chip” is a small, tight groundcover whose leaves are a bronzy chocolate color.

Moderate traffic. Try creeping Jenny (Lysimachia) varieties. They prefer moist areas with partial shade. Their leaves are the size of dimes and they spread by runners. Wherever a leaf node lands, it will root. So it can rapidly fill in any given area. It can be considered invasive if not judiciously checked. L. nummularia ‘Aurea’ has chartreuse gold foliage and is often sold as a trailing plant for containers. L. japonica ‘Minutissima’ has super tight evergreen foliage. However, it is a slow grower. So combining two varieties of Lysimachia would give visual interest as well as quick coverage. Also take a look at Kew wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei ‘Kewensis’). It is evergreen all year, tolerates shade, harsh soil conditions, and averages 2 inches in height. This is a very durable groundcover, but coarser in texture than the lysimachias.

Heavy traffic. Thymes and Irish moss are the most durable choices. Thyme is a great survivor, tolerating being walked on many times a day. Look for creeping thyme (Thymus serpyllum) or woolly thyme (Thymus pseudolanuginosus). Both will tolerate dry soil, are present spring through summer, and can handle zone 4 conditions. They tend to do better with more sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Irish moss (Sagina subulata) will form a very dense mat and is especially effective when combined with stepping stones. It likes moisture, prefers soil low in fertility, and enjoys dense shade. Homeowners often find it in their lawns when turf becomes thin and compacted.

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Glory of the snow (Chionodoxa)