When we put in the new driveway the narrow strip of lawn bordering the Left Bank Bed became even narrower. So naturally, I decided to dig it up. The new garden space was filled, among other things, with Glory-of-the-Snow (Scilla forbesii, formerly Chionodoxa forbesii).
This is the planting’s second year, and I am pleased with its progress. Not yet a solid mass of blue, but moving in the right direction.
Glory-of-the-Snow looks quite similar to Siberian Squill (S. sibirica), except that the flowers face upward and have a white eye. Both species are both resistant to rabbits and deer.
It’s a sweet little flower for early spring.
I first thought of trying them after seeing them in bloom at Lurie Garden.
Glory-of-the-Snow will naturalize, perhaps not as rampantly as Siberian Squill.
gardeninacity 
Lovely. Not much is popping out of the ground here. Wise, since it has been below freezing most mornings.
I love Glory of the Snow and planted some in the grass near our front gate for this spring. I hope they will spread.
That is just a lovely color. I didn’t know they would spread. Mine seem to just disappear after a year. Must need a different location (like in your garden). Have a nice weekend.
Beautiful color. One of my favorites!
So vibrant! May they continue to spread.
In the third photo, your flowers look a bit like our two native blue star (Amsonia) species. They’re such pretty plants, and there are reports of them blooming now. I hope to find some; they will bloom into May or even early June, depending on the conditions. How long does the glory of the snow keep its bloom? It’s a lovely thing.
Depends on the weather. In a normal spring, 1-2 weeks, I think.
Beautiful! I have seen these but never knew their name!
I love this little plant and have some growing in pots, strangely enough with sage, but the combo of silvery-green newly emerging sage leaves and the blue of the Chionodoxa works quite well together. I haven’t seen Siberian squill before, I like its vibrant blue shade. Are they easy to grow?
Some would say too easy! Considered invasive by some, at least in NE North America.
I love your blue trail leading up to the front door.
That promises to be a real spring splendor in a year or two. Those little things almost sparkle all together like that.
Oh, I remember this from last year. I do not remember that it was the first year for it though.
So lovely! I have to get some of those in my garden too. I have some blue iris reticulata coming up and, as in your case, they are a relatively new planting that seems to be heading in the right direction when it comes to spreading. I’ll have to take a photo of the area this year so that I can compare and see if they actually are or if it’s just wishful thinking 🙂
Glory of Snow looks lovely…and interesting to see it in the Lurie garden where it is more developed. Very pretty and I love the name.
Snowdrops seem to be both deer and vole resistant here, but I will have to give there two beauties try. It is more the voles that are the bane of bulbs for me.
I just saw my first scilla bloom! All by itself on a little slope, away from the clumps, there it was, blooming in the sunshine.
Such vivid vibrant blue! Your border will fill in and become the river of blue you see in your vision. I don’t care if “they” change the name to scilla, I’m sticking with chionodoxa because it’s just a fun word. I grow both of these and have found their seed spread to be a study in how water moves on my property. The seedlings will definitely show up in unexpected places and delight you. Enjoy!
I’m going to try Chionodoxa sardensis next time, to see if I can get that same deeper solid blue without risking any rampaging scillas. 🙂 I did try a white chionodoxa last fall (C. luciliae Alba) which is flowering now (in my defense: it’s a white planting, lol) and is smaller than C. forbesii ‘Blue Giant’. I am pretty sure that not ALL of the 100 that I planted have decided to come up, though.
Oh, I’m confused now, I thought Siberian Squill, Scilla (which I’ve just learnt has changed name) and Glory of the Snow were all the same plant. I think we have the Scilla, growing among cyclamen right under the trees in the most difficult conditions in the garden. It has such a delicate looking flower for such a tough plant.
How sweet are they?xxx