Other Names:  Scilla sardensis

Description:

Pretty flowers of lilac-blue are a welcome sign of spring; naturalize areas under shrubs, in turf or among perennials for beautiful spring displays; foliage tends to die back in the heat of summer

Ornamental Features

Lesser Glory of the Snow features dainty racemes of lilac purple star-shaped flowers with blue overtones and white eyes at the ends of the stems from late winter to early spring. Its grassy leaves remain dark green in color throughout the season.

Landscape Attributes

Lesser Glory of the Snow is an herbaceous perennial with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other garden plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should only be pruned after flowering to avoid removing any of the current season's flowers. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Spreading

Lesser Glory of the Snow is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Border Edging
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Container Planting

Planting & Growing

Lesser Glory of the Snow will grow to be only 3 inches tall at maturity extending to 5 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 6 inches. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 5 years. As an herbaceous perennial, this plant will usually die back to the crown each winter, and will regrow from the base each spring. Be careful not to disturb the crown in late winter when it may not be readily seen! As this plant tends to go dormant in summer, it is best interplanted with late-season bloomers to hide the dying foliage.

This plant does best in full sun to partial shade. It prefers to grow in average to moist conditions, and shouldn't be allowed to dry out. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by multiplication of the underground bulbs.

Lesser Glory of the Snow is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a mass of flowers against which the larger thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.