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Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow
Chionodoxa forbesii
Easy · Beginner friendlyAbout Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow
Glory-of-the-Snow is a small Turkish bulb hardy in USDA zones 3-8, producing sprays of 6 to 12 upward-facing blue star flowers with distinct white eyes on 6 inch stems in early spring. The bulbs multiply rapidly by both offsets and seed, quickly forming carpets under deciduous trees and in rock gardens. The most commonly grown Chionodoxa in the US, sold widely for naturalizing, with pink and white cultivars alongside the classic blue.
- Deer-resistant
How to care for Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow
Watering
- Springevery 5 days
- Summerpause watering
- Fallevery 10 days
- Winterevery 14 days
Soil · Well-draining
- Main mixLoam + coarse sand 3:175%
- DrainageGravel25%
Sharp drainage matters most — bulbs rot in wet soil while dormant.
FERTILIZER
Balanced Feed 14-14-14
An even feed covers all three needs at once, keeping leaves, roots and blooms moving together with nothing pushed out of balance.
- Nitrogen · Leaves
- Phosphorus · Roots + Blooms
- Potassium · Strength
- Fallevery 60 days
At a Glance
- NativeWestern Asia
- Height0.3–0.5 ft (0.1–0.2 m)
- Spread0.2–0.3 ft (0.1–0.1 m)
- Flower colorBlue, Pink, White
- Foliage colorGreen
- SoilLoamy, Well-drained
- LocationsYard
Bloom time
BLOOM CYCLE
Peak bloom
Mar–Apr
Upward-facing blue stars with white eye in early spring
Fragrance
LIGHT FRAGRANCE
The flowers have a very lightly sweet-scented scent.
Toxicity
Humans Moderate · Pets Moderate
scillaren and cardiac glycosides
Moderate
- Bulb
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.
EFFECT Nausea and vomiting.
NOTE Bulbs contain cardiac glycosides.
Moderate
- Bulb
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.
EFFECT Vomiting and drooling.
NOTE Bulbs contain cardiac glycosides.
Moderate
- Bulb
- Ingestion
EXPOSURE Eating bulbs.
EFFECT Vomiting and drooling.
NOTE Bulbs contain cardiac glycosides.
Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
DISTRIBUTION
- Native
- Introduced
- Western Asia
History
Chionodoxa forbesii grows on rocky mountainsides of western and southern Turkey, particularly the Boz Dağ and Honaz Dağı ranges. John Gilbert Baker described it at Kew in 1879, honoring James Forbes, 19th-century British gardener and plantsman at Woburn Abbey. It reached cultivation through English plant hunters in the 1880s.
Long confused in commerce with C. luciliae, most bulbs sold under the latter name are actually C. forbesii. Its blue six-petaled star flowers with conspicuous white centers earn the common name 'glory of the snow'. Modern phylogenetics merges Chionodoxa into Scilla (now Scilla forbesii), but horticultural trade retains the older name.
Cultivars 'Pink Giant' and 'Blue Giant' (both Dutch, mid-20th century) are widely grown, as is 'Alba' (pure white). Popular for naturalizing lawns. Native to western Turkey, introduced to American gardens in the 1800s and widely planted as a naturalizing bulb in Midwest and Northeast. Often sold under the name Chionodoxa luciliae, though true luciliae is a different larger-flowered species. Pink Giant became a major 20th-century cultivar.
Symbolism & meaning
What It Symbolizes
Glory-of-the-Snow lives up to it name, pushing star-shaped blue flowers through the last patches of melting snow on Anatolian mountainsides — and now in countless March gardens. Left to itself it becomes a naturalizer, seeding and offsetting into spreading drifts that deepen each year. It is the small annual miracle that announces winter has, at last, lost its grip.
- Glory of snow — flowers emerge through melting snow
- Naturalizer — seeds and offsets rapidly into drifts
Where the Name Comes From
'forbesii' honors James Forbes (1749-1819), Scottish horticulturist who described the species.
Uses & Fun Facts
- Naturalizes into early spring carpets under deciduous trees
- Multiplies rapidly to form blue-and-white bulb lawns
Related plants
More Chionodoxa plants
Plants with similar care
Red BuckeyeAesculus pavia
Blue BugleAjuga genevensis
Pyramidal BugleAjuga pyramidalis
Carpet BugleAjuga reptans
Frequently asked questions
How often should I water Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow?
Water about every 5 days during the growing season, and always let excess water drain away.
How much light does Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow need?
Part shade: 2–4 hrs direct. Watch the leaves — scorching or stretching means the light needs adjusting.
Is Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow toxic to cats or dogs?
Pets Moderate (Dogs Moderate · Cats Moderate) Educational information, not medical or veterinary advice. If exposure is suspected, contact a doctor or veterinarian.
Is Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow easy to grow?
Yes — it is considered an easy, beginner-friendly plant.
When does Forbes' Glory-Of-The-Snow bloom?
It typically blooms Mar–Apr in the Northern Hemisphere.
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