Chionodox: photo of flowers, description, reproduction, planting and care

Planting and caring for chionodoxes in the open field is within the power of even novice gardeners, since the perennial is unpretentious. It appears simultaneously with the blueberry and the snowdrop, when the snow has not completely melted. The tenderness and sophistication of this flower have found application in landscape design.

The story of

The name chionodoxa (lat. Chionodoxa) comes from the Greek words “chion” and “doxa”, which means “snow” and “pride”. This is due to the fact that the plant appears even under the snow. He also has popular names – a snowman, a snow beauty.

In -language literature, chionodox is often called Scylla Lucilia (Scilla luciliae). This bulbous perennial got its name in honor of Lucille, the wife of the botanist Pierre Edmond Boissier.

Breeders work with different plant species to produce hybrids. A whole series of them was created by V. Khondyrev.

Description and characteristics

Chionodox belong to the genus Scylla and the Lilein family. In nature, they are found in Asia Minor and Crete. Characteristics of a bulbous plant:

• height 0,1-0,2 cm;
• peduncle length up to 0,2 m;
• annual roots;
• basal leaf plates (1 pair) 8-12 cm long, with a dark green color, are grooved and broadly lanceolate, appear simultaneously with peduncles;
• at the ends of the peduncles, brushes with 2-3 buds are formed;
• flowers are bell-shaped and 6 petals, diameter 2,5-4 cm;
• inflorescence racemose and loose, flowers can be solitary;
• leaflets of prostrate broadly bell-shaped or star-shaped perianth fused at the base, slightly reclined;
• the fruit of hionodoxa is a fleshy box with black rounded seeds that have a juicy appendage;
• bulbs have an ovoid shape, length 2-3 cm, width 1,5 cm, light scaly surface, 2 annual cycles.

Chionodoxa is a myrmecochore plant – ants eat and spread its seeds

When and how it blooms

Chionodoxa is an early perennial. Its flowering usually begins in April when it gets warmer outside. For some varieties, the dates are later and fall in May.

The color of the plant is different, but all shades are calm. Flowers are white, blue, blue, pink, lilac, purple.

The color of chionodoxa flowers is uneven – in the center there is a light spot, towards the tips of the petals the shade becomes darker and more saturated

Flowering lasts only 2-3 weeks. The growing season ends at the beginning of summer with the death of the above-ground part of the plant.

Species and varieties

There are few varieties of chionodoxa, but the perennial crosses well with other plants. This made it possible to create interesting varieties and hybrids. Only half of the species are used in horticulture. The variety of species will allow you to verify the photo of chionodoxes of different varieties.

Chionodox whitish

The whitish chionodoxa (Chionodoxa albescens), contrary to the name, has a pale pink bloom with a lilac tint. It grows up to 0,1-0,15 m. There can be 1-3 buds on one peduncle.

Chionodoxa whitish has small flowers with a diameter of 1 cm

Chionodoxa Forbes

Chionodoxa Forbes (Chionodoxa forbesii), or Tmolusa (Chionodoxa tmolusi), in its natural form can be found in southern Turkey (Aladag mountain range). The plant prefers a height of up to 2,5 km. It has been cultivated since 1976. Characteristics:

• height up to 0,25 m;
• peduncle no higher than 0,15 m, it has up to 15 buds;
• in vertical loose inflorescences-brushes, the width is less than the length;
• flowers up to 3,5 cm in diameter, blue in color, with a white spot surrounding the eye;
• in some varieties, the color is white or pink;
• the plant does not set seeds, propagates only by bulbs.

Crossing this species with a scilla (scylla) two-leaf led to the creation of a new hybrid. They call it chionoscilla. The height of such a plant is up to 0,1 m, the inflorescences are dense, the flowers are small blue and star-shaped.

Blue Giant

Intense blue color is different chionodoxa Forbes Blue Giant (Blue Giant). This variety was called the blue giant because of the color and large size for its species. It grows up to 0,2 m, the size of the bulbs is 5 cm.

The flowering of the Blue Giant variety, depending on the region, occurs in March-May

Pink Giant

The variety Pink Giant (Pink Giant) attracts with pink-lavender color of flowers. Plant height reaches 15 cm. They have dark stems and sparse narrow leaves. Up to 10 flowers with a white core are formed.

Pink Giant blooms in March-April

Hionodox of Lucia

In nature, Chionodox Lucilia (Chionodoxa luciliae) can be found in the mountainous regions of Asia Minor. The plant has been cultivated since 1764. Main characteristics:

• height up to 0,2 m;
• peduncles up to 0,2 m, have up to 20 buds;
• flowers up to 3 cm in diameter, blue-blue color with a white core;
• the plant blooms in April-May;
• bulbs are round and small in size;
• flowering garden forms of this phylum can be white or pink.

Flowering Chionodox Lucilia lasts 3 weeks

Alba

Variety Alba (Alba) means snow-white color of flowers. Their diameter is up to 2,5 cm. The height of the plant is not more than 0,1-0,15 m. The inflorescences are racemose, each with 3-4 buds.

Alba variety blooms in April-May 1,5-2 weeks

Violet Beauty

Variety Violet Beauty (Violet Beauty) is distinguished by pink-purple flowering. It starts at the end of March. Plant height does not exceed 0,1-0,15 m.

Violet Beauty is a hybrid. On peduncles, 4-5 buds are formed.

Violet Beauty feels good both in the sun and in partial shade

Rosea

Plants of the Rosea variety grow up to 0,2-0,25 m. Characteristics:

• peduncles have up to 15 buds;
• vertical loose inflorescences-brushes half a plant high;
• flowering in the middle lane occurs in April.

Rosea flowers 1-3,5 cm across

Chionodoxa giant

In some sources, the giant chionodox (Chionodoxa gigantea) is not called an independent species, but a synonym for the chionodox of Lucilia. In its natural form, this is a plant of the alpine belt in the mountains of Asia Minor. It has been cultivated since 1878. Main characteristics:

• peduncles up to 0,1 m, each with 1-5 buds;
• basal leaves taper upward;
• bright blue perianths with a purple tint, the pharynx is lighter;
• flowering begins until mid-April;
• the bulbs are dense and light, ovoid in shape, up to 3 cm in size.

Hionodoxa Sardinian

The Sardinian Chionodoxa (Chionodoxa sardensis) is native to the mountainous regions of Asia Minor. The perennial has been cultivated since 1885. The main parameters of the flower:

• the average height of peduncles is 0,1 m, each has up to 10 buds;
• flower diameter 1,5-2 cm, bright blue color;
• cultivated varieties are white or pink;
• flowering lasts 3-3,5 weeks;
• bulbs ovoid, covered with brownish scales;
• the plant blooms 5-6 days after giant chionodoxa.

A distinctive feature of Sardinian chionodox is the absence of a white spot in the throat.

Chionodoxa Cretan

Chionodoxa Cretica (Chionodoxa cretica) is also called dwarf (Chionodoxa nana). The first option is explained by the size of the plant, the second – by the habitat in nature, the subalpine belt of the mountains of Crete. This perennial is rarely cultivated. The characteristics are as follows:

• height of peduncles 0,1-0,15 m, each with 1-5 buds;
• flower diameter up to 1 cm;
• perianths are blue.

Methods of reproduction

Chionodox can be propagated vegetatively or by seeds. It is easier to use the first option, that is, to separate children from the parent plant, for each bush they form from 2 pieces during the season.

For propagation by bulbs, they must be dug in the second half of July. Before planting, keep the collected material in a dark and dry place at a temperature of 15-17 ° C

Chionodox reproduces well by self-sowing, but ants can spread the seeds throughout the site. Self-collection of seed, which must be done before the boxes burst, will help to avoid this. It is convenient to wrap them with gauze in advance. Seedlings are grown from the harvested material, which are then transferred to open ground.

Planting and caring for Chionodox

Chionodoxes attract gardeners not only with their tenderness and early flowering, but also with their unpretentiousness. Perennial is easy to plant, care for it should be comprehensive, but all measures are simple.

Terms of planting

Chionodoxes are usually planted with bulbs. It is recommended to do this at the very beginning of autumn, when root rollers are finally formed on the bottoms.

Site and soil preparation

Chionodox prefer open and well-lit areas where they bloom as early as possible. You can also plant them near trees and shrubs, as they do not yet have foliage in early spring. In this case, flowering will begin later, but the decorative effect will last longer.

Optimal growing conditions:

• loose nutritious and moderately moist soil;
• soil reaction is neutral or slightly alkaline;
• remoteness of groundwater;
• effectively adding forest land with rotted foliage and tree bark.

After planting chionodoxa, it is recommended to apply nitrogenous fertilizers

Landing

Hionodox is planted similarly to other bulbous crops. If the material is prepared independently, then immediately before being placed in a permanent place, the nest must be divided along the line of shares. Landing algorithm:

1. Dig up the selected area, rid of weeds, loosen.
2. Soak the bulbs in advance in a solution of potassium permanganate.
3. Prepare recesses at intervals of 5-10 cm, depending on the size of the planting material.
4. Place the bulbs in the holes. Deepen large specimens by 6-8 cm, smaller ones by 4-6 cm.

Aftercare

It is difficult to find a more unpretentious flower than chionodox. The first care for him consists of the following activities:

• watering if the spring is dry and there was little snow in winter;
• loosening the soil around the plants;
• weeding;
• mulching – dry peat, humus.

In the future, watering is needed only during prolonged drought. Water should be settled and not cold. Watering is needed plentiful, produce it early in the morning, avoiding moisture on the flowers.

For a perennial season, it is enough to feed 1 time. Complex mineral fertilizers such as nitroammofoski are effective. They provide abundant and long flowering. If the product is granular, then evenly distribute it over the soil and loosen it slightly.

At the beginning of flowering chionodoxa, to stimulate it, you can feed the plant with organic matter.

Preparation for winter

When flowering is over, you need to get rid of all the arrows. The foliage is left to wither completely, then cut off.

Chionodox is characterized by high frost resistance. If the region has a mild climate, then the perennial does not need any shelter. You need to organize it if the flower grows in an open area. To do this, use fallen leaves or spruce branches. Cover the plant in late autumn.

Diseases and pests

Chionodox is resistant to many diseases, but adverse factors can provoke them. More often it is high humidity, flooding of the soil.

One of the problems is gray rot. The defeat leads to rotting of the bulbs. Outwardly, the disease is manifested by slow development, poor flowering, yellowing and drying of the leaves. On the affected parts of the plant, at first a dark and fluffy, then a gray powdery coating appears.

Bulbs affected by gray rot must be destroyed. For prevention, plant residues are burned, and planting material is treated with preparations with fludioxonil (fungicide) before storage.

Gray rot spreads rapidly, spores are carried by wind and moisture during irrigation and precipitation.

Another fungal infection is Fusarium. It manifests itself as dark spots on the foliage, followed by blackening, drying and falling off. In the advanced stage, the bulb is affected. Diseased plants must be disposed of, the rest should be sprayed with Fundazol (Benomyl).

Fusarium risk factors – changes in temperature and humidity of air and soil, nutrient deficiencies

Of the fungal diseases, chionodox can affect septoria. On the leaves, it appears as dark spots with a red border and a light area inside. The affected areas turn yellow and dry, flowering suffers. Fungicides are used to control the fungus.

To prevent septoria, it is necessary to remove plant residues, spray plantings with fungicides

Of the pests, the onion root mite is dangerous. Affected tubers quickly die, become unsuitable for reproduction. To fight the enemy, acaricides are used – Aktara, Aktellik, Akarin.

The onion mite has a whitish or yellowish color, the size is only 1 mm

Mice and moles also harm chionodox. Plant bulbs are food for them. To combat rodents, poisons, mechanical traps, repellers are used.

Moles, mice and other rodents are afraid of the black root plant, popularly called the rat-dog

Chionodox flowers in landscape design

When using chionodoxes in landscape design, it is important to remember that in the summer their above-ground parts die off. The decorativeness of this plant is short-lived.

Chionodox well fills the space under the trees in the spring, revitalizes the lawn

This perennial should be combined with other early flowers: spring adonis (Adonis), armeria, its flowering begins in late spring and lasts all summer, white flowers, hyacinths, irises (undersized species), kandyk (erythronium), hellebore, primrose (primrose), liverwort (coppice), snowdrops.

Chionodox are undersized and unpretentious, which makes them a welcome guest in rockeries and rock gardens. These flowers thrive among rocks and gravel.

Chionodox is effective in planting in small groups

In a multi-stage design, chionodoxes are planted on the lower level. Other flowering plants and evergreen shrubs serve as a good background for them.

Chionodoxa is good for filling empty spaces, creating a beautiful flowering carpet

This early perennial can be placed along the borders. It looks spectacular in linear plantings.

Melting snow is an excellent backdrop for chionodoxa and a source of moisture it needs.

Chionodox planted near the house enliven the view from the window

Recommendations

Chionodox is easy to grow. The following recommendations will help to activate its activity and increase decorativeness:

1. Effectively distill hionodoxa for active development and abundant flowering. The plant looks good in pots and containers, it can be grown in them.
2. Drainage and good gas exchange can be ensured by adding sand and gravel.
3. Chionodoxa does not like lowlands. If the site is like this, then it is better to plant a perennial on a slope or make an artificial hill for it.
4. The plant needs to be transplanted every 5-7 years, otherwise it will become smaller.
5. You can improve the composition of heavy soil by adding peat and sand – 1 bucket per 1 m².

Conclusion

Planting and caring for Chionodox outdoors is much easier compared to other garden plants. This perennial is unpretentious, blooms one of the first, is not afraid of cold weather. It goes well with other colors, can be effectively used in landscape design.