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Leucojum aestivum - L.

Common Name Summer Snowflake
Family Amaryllidaceae
USDA hardiness 4-9
Known Hazards None known
Habitats Marshes, wet meadows and willow thickets, avoiding acid soils[17].
Range Europe, including Britain, from France south and east to Spain, Greece, the Crimea and Iran.
Edibility Rating    (1 of 5)
Other Uses    (0 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Fully Hardy Moist Soil Wet Soil Semi-shade Full sun
Leucojum aestivum Summer Snowflake


http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Leucojum_aestivum_Sturm48.jpg
Leucojum aestivum Summer Snowflake
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Summary

Bloom Color: White. Main Bloom Time: Late spring. Form: Upright or erect.


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of bulb
Leucojum aestivum is a BULB growing to 0.5 m (1ft 8in) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 4 and is not frost tender. It is in flower in May, and the seeds ripen in July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Bees.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Dappled Shade; Meadow; Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Root
Edible Uses:

Bulb - cooked[105]. I have some reservations about this report, though no records of the plant being poisonous have been found so far.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Container, Foundation, Massing, Rock garden, Specimen, Woodland garden. Easily grown in ordinary garden soil[1]. It does well in a moist heavy soil in full sun or partial shade[1, 17, 31, 90] and is happy in water-logged conditions[90]. The dormant bulbs are fairly hardy and will withstand soil temperatures down to at least -5°c[214]. Plants can be naturalized in damp rough grass[200]. Flowers are produced within 4 - 5 years from seed. The seedpods are swollen and filled with air so that they can be dispersed by floating in water[90]. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[233]. Special Features:Attractive foliage, Naturalizing, Suitable for cut flowers.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Plant Propagation

The seed is best sown as soon as it is ripe in a well-drained soil in a cold frame. Stored seed requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification, it should then germinate in 2 - 4 weeks at 10°c[134]. Sow the seed thinly so that the seedlings can be allowed to grow on undisturbed in the pots for their first year of growth. Give them an occasional weak liquid feed to ensure that they do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up the small bulbs when dormant, planting 2 - 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on for another 2 - 3 years before planting them out. Division of offsets in September/October. It is best done as soon as the foliage ripens[1]. Scooping the bulbs.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Leucojum vernumSpring SnowflakeBulb0.2 4-8  LMHFSM00 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Expert comment

Author

L.

Botanical References

17200

Links / References

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Readers comment

Lydia Baker   Wed Jan 19 16:54:58 2005

I found this plant the other day and it was blooming all ready Place found: Anderson SC 29625 in a woodland area Time found: 1/18/05 at 4:50pm Soil: moist red clay Temp: around 40 degrees.

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