Leucojum Vernum (Spring Snowflake) Profile: Plant Info & Care Guide

Leucojum Vernum (Spring Snowflake) is a bulbous herb with drooping white flowers. Leucojum Vernum has a bulb. Leaves are linear. The flower stem is erect, at the top of the flower stem is born a flower, the flower droops, bell shape; The flower is white and the petals are six. The petals are divided into two layers, the inner layer and the outer layer each have three petals. The outer layer is longer and more convex than the inner layer. 

Leucojum Vernum forms the genus Galanthus, belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. The Latin name for the common leucojum vernum is G. Nivalis. 

Leucojum Vernum Picture

Characteristics of Leucojum Vernum

Leucojum Vernum Strain

Leucojum Vernum is a perennial herb with a plant height of 10 ~ 30cm. Bulbs are small, 1.8 -- 2.5cm in diameter, globose.

Leucojum Vernum Leaf

Leucojum Vernum leaves are fascicular, linear, green with white powder, 15 ~ 23 cm long, 1.3 cm wide.

Leucojum Vernum Flowers

Leucojum Vernum stands upright, hollow, oblate; Flowers are apically solitary, pendulous; Pedicel is short; Leucojum Vernum has 6 tepals, elliptic, without tube, broadly bell-shaped, white, with a green spot at end of each lobe. Leucojum Vernum blooms in early Spring.

Ecology of Leucojum Vernum

Leucojum Vernum is hardy, like cool climates and fertile, moist, rich in humus sandy loam.

How to Care for Leucojum Vernum

Leucojum Vernum Humidity Requirements

Leucojum Vernum likes the drier air environment, overcast and rainy days are too long, easy to be infected by germs. Avoid rain and keep the leaves dry at night. The optimum air relative humidity is 40 ~ 65%.

Leucojum Vernum Temperature Care

Spring Snowflake likes cold climate, afraid of hot, difficult summer; It is not frost resistant and will go into hibernation when the temperature drops below 10 °C. The optimum growth temperature is 15 ~ 28℃.

Leucojum Vernum Light Requirements

In late autumn, winter, early spring three seasons, because the temperature is not very high, it is necessary to give Leucojum Vernum direct sunlight, in order to facilitate its photosynthesis and the formation of flower buds, flowering, fruiting. In hot weather or in summer, it needs to be shaded from the sun by about 50%. Indoor conservation and appreciation are put in after flowering, want to be put in southeast near the door window, in order to extend flowering period and increase flowering amount as far as possible.

Watering Leucojum Vernum 

Leucojum Vernum does not require much fertilizer and water, and it is also afraid of indiscriminate fertilization, concentrated fertilizer and partial application of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash fertilizer. It is required to follow the fertilization (water) principle of "frequent application of light fertilizer, less amount and more times, and complete nutrition" :

Spring and autumn: these two seasons are the peak season for its growth. The fertilizer and water management should follow the sequential cycle of "fertilizer" -- "fertilizer" -- "fertilizer" -- "fertilizer" -- "fertilizer" -- "fertilizer" -- clean water (at least twice a week to ensure "fertilizer"). The interval period is about 1-4 days for outdoor curing and 2-6 days for indoor curing. Water in the morning or evening when temperatures are low, and spray the plants often. Watering time as far as possible to arrange in the morning when the temperature is low.

Winter: In winter dormant period, it is mainly to control fertilizer and water. Fertilization and water management should follow the sequential cycle of "fertilizer" -- clear water -- clear water -- "fertilizer" -- clear water -- clean water. The interval period is about 7-10 days. Watering time as far as possible to arrange in the sunny noon when the temperature is higher.

How Leucojum Vernum propagates

Leucojum Vernum propagates mainly by branching and seed. When the leaves have withered and the plant is dormant, the bulbs attached to the cue ball are stripped from the cue ball and propagated from these bulbs. To propagate by seed, seeds can be sown in the spring or as soon as the seeds are ripe. Professional growers or amateurs sometimes use a method called "scale propagation" to produce large numbers of seedlings of a particular species.

Best planting time: Winter and early spring transition.

Distribution of Leucojum Vernum

Spring Snowflake is native to the warm and frigid regions of Europe and Asia Minor

Varieties of Leucojum Vernum

Galanthus allenii

Byzantine Spring Snowflake (Galanthus Byzantinus)

Caucasus spring snowflake (Galanthus caucasicus)

Galanthus fosteri

Large Spring Snowflake (Galanthus elwesii) -- native to the eastern Mediterranean, about 23 cm tall, bloomings in January or February. The flowers are large and the petals have distinct green spots.

Galanthus ikariae

Galanthus imperati

Galanthus lagodechianus

Broad-leaved Spring Snowflake (Galanthus latifolius)

Leucojum Vernum (Galanthus nivalis) -- Leucojum Vernum is the most famous plant of the genus.

Double Spring Snowflake ('Flore Pleno') -- The double variety of Spring Snowflake.

Galanthus peshmenii

Galanthus platyphyllus

Crimean Spring Snowflake (Galanthus plicatus) -- 30 cm tall.Flowers white, January to March bloom.Leaves wide, leaf margin downward anticurling.

Galanthus reginae-olgae

Galanthus woronowii

Leucojum Vernum Uses

Garden Use

The delicate and elegant pink green leaf clusters with white flowers hanging like snowflakes are lovely. In addition to the low plant shape, Leucojum Vernum is most suitable for garden rockery or natural planting on lawns.

Medical Use

Leucojum Vernum has the effect of warming the kidney and helping Yang, dispersing wind and dehumidifying, activating meridians, regulating menstruation and relieving pain. Leucojum Vernum is mainly used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation, cold pain in the lower abdomen, rheumatoid arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, Leucojum Vernum can also be used for the treatment of postpartum rehabilitation, male impotence, senile lumbar and leg pain and other diseases, and has a significant role in strengthening the body, delaying aging.