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Glory of the Snow
Scilla
Glory of the Snow blooms from March through March.
Mature size, hardiness zones, sun and the trait tags were checked against named botanical sources for this plant. The bloom months and water need on this page were not.
Growing Glory of the Snow
Plant it in full sun. It prefers moderate water. It is hardy in USDA zones 3–8. Expect it to reach about 5 in tall and 3 in wide at maturity, in roughly 1 year.
When to plant Glory of the Snow
Glory of the Snow is a fall-planted bulb: get it in the ground 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes, typically September or October across zones 3 to 8. It pays you back the following March.
Month-by-month timing for your zone is on the planting calendar: for the middle of its range, start with zone 5 in September.
Comes in 4 varieties across 3 colors
Same plant, same care - pick the color you are growing.
Good to know about Glory of the Snow
Curated from university extensions, botanic gardens and other primary sources, with the source named on every note.
Safety
All parts are poisonous. NC State rates the genus high-severity to humans: eating it can bring mouth pain, nausea, vomiting, cramping, diarrhea and a slowed heartbeat. per NC State
Worth knowing
One toxin does triple duty: the cardiac glycosides that make every part poisonous are also why deer will not browse it and why rodents leave the bulbs alone. per NC State and Toxins
Naturalizer or invasive risk?
NC State says it naturalizes freely but is not invasive. Its genus-mate Siberian squill is flagged invasive by Minnesota. Near wild land, deadhead to contain it. per NC State and University of Minnesota
Blooms through lingering snow
It is named for opening so early that flowers push up while snow still lingers, among the first bulbs alongside crocus and winter aconite. per Wisconsin
Early bee forage
One of the first bulbs to bloom, it feeds overwintered and newly emerged bees at a time when little else is open. per NC State and University of Illinois
Naturalizes into blue carpets
It spreads two ways at once, by bulb offsets and self-sown seed that ants help scatter, building blue carpets under trees and in lawns. per NC State
Tolerates black walnut
It is unaffected by juglone, so it can grow under black walnut trees, where many other plants fail. per Wisconsin
What pairs well with Glory of the Snow
Good companions share its growing conditions and add something it lacks: an earlier or later bloom, a lower carpet in front, or structure through winter.
Bergenia
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate water; blooms in mid spring as this one finishes; leafs out to hide the ripening bulb foliage as it dies back; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Sneezeweed
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in midsummer, extending the bed's season; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Perennial Sunflower
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; stands well above at 4.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Blue Oat Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; leafs out to hide the ripening bulb foliage as it dies back; blooms in early summer, extending the bed's season; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Feather Reed Grass
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early summer, extending the bed's season; stands well above at 4.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Fountain Grass
Shares full sun and low to moderate water; blooms in late summer, extending the bed's season; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Boxwood
Shares full sun and moderate water; stands well above at 3.9 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
Asiatic Lily
Shares full sun and moderate water; blooms in early summer, extending the bed's season; stands well above at 3.3 ft, a canopy to plant beneath; pink against blue, for contrast.
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