The glory of the snow is the real harbinger of spring. In early spring, when the snow that was heavy during the winter has not yet melted, the glory of the snow appears from under the snow in the mountains and foothills, on forest lawns, in the barely thawed thaws – the glory of the snow with white, blue, or purple wonder – early blossoms.

They usually grow in vast clearings, illuminated by the gentle rays of the cool but gentle first spring sun. They impress with their amazingly fragile defencelessness and, simultaneously, their endless unpretentious endurance, radiating an alluring fragrance, not very strong but delightful.

The glory of the snow flower is the harbinger of spring and a symbol of hope for the long-awaited arrival of warmth. This miracle of nature usually blooms in March or April. Soon after such an appearance to the world, its bud rushes towards the sun, eventually forced to bend down, appearing as if suspended on a fancifully curved pedicel.

There are many beautiful legends about spring flowers that represent the awakening of nature. According to one of them, Eve, banished from paradise to the cold, snow-covered ground, is very cold for the first time. To give her some comfort, a few bizarre snowflakes transformed into the first glory of the snow flowers, offering a foretaste of the joys of the world to come.

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The glory of the snow is a plant with two linear, dark green leaves, which appear with flower stalks almost simultaneously and are only about 10 cm long. The bract, which consists of two halves, protects the bud which is making its appearance. The three inner ones, which have a green tip, are cone-shaped and surrounded by three
elliptical, larger petals, which gives the flower a unique finesse.

The plant's growing period is short, and flowering lasts from a few days to two weeks. They stop flowering once the last of the snow has fallen, and the winter cover finally gives way to the green and colorful colors of nature in summer.

Planting and Propagation

The glory of the snow is generally forest flowers in the wild. However, they can be found anywhere but adore moist, nutritious soil.

After they finish flowering, it's time for them to pop their seeds. They mature in a greenish-yellow, rounded, fleshy capsule with three compartments and are spherical in shape and black in color.

By spring, nature has finally awakened, and many small insects are booming. Among them are ants, eager to eat the juicy appendage that the grains of the snow-white chrysalis possess. In this way, the little workers help the seeds to spread, scattering them along the numerous underground passages they have dug out. Soon after, the upper part of the plant completely dies off. Only the bulb is left, which, having survived the long, harsh winter underground, the following spring can give birth to a new flower, again able to delight the eyes of others.

As early as autumn, the bulb gives birth to new roots and stores nutrients. During this period, new flowers and leaves are already forming, which sprout and nearly reach the ground, spending the winter in a condition that will allow them to be seen at a time when the first rays of sunlight have overcome the obstacle before the snow covers the ground.

The glory of the snow has been an early spring ornamental plant for centuries. It is also a well-known and widespread indoor flower. But they don't start to flower before six or seven years after sowing.

Growing flowers, gardeners should consider that this representative of the flora is used to growing under the shade of trees, adoring the penumbra, and in open spaces, it does not take root well.

The plant is entirely unpretentious and resistant to temperature changes and frosts. However, it prefers loose soil rich in fertilizer. It is better to add some sand if it is planted in clay soil.

Planting the bulbs to a depth corresponding to their double size is customary. But even if this rule is not followed, the natural plant helps itself.

If planted deep, it will form another bulb that grows on top of the previous bulb to best reach the soil surface. With shallow planting depth, the bulb shreds to form a sprout.

Purchase the bulbs in late summer to plant them in autumn. They should be firm to the touch and free of rot and damage. When storing the bulbs, do not keep them outdoors; cover them with sawdust and place them in cotton sacks.

When planting, feed the plant with phosphorus- and potassium-rich, nitrogen-free fertilizer to avoid excessive leaf growth. During the dry spring, the glory of the snow needs watering but is no longer required after flowering.

The Most Beautiful Species and Varieties

There are various species of glory in the snow. The lesser glory-of-the-snow, Forbes' glory-of-the-snow, and Lucile's glory-of-the-snow are all suitable for home gardens. Glory-of-the-snow types can be quickly identified by their flowers' size, color, and quantity. One to two flowers are produced per inflorescence by Lucile's glory-of-the-snow, which grows to a height of 15 cm. On the other hand, the Forbes glory-of-the-snow has four to twelve flowers on each flower stalk and typically reaches heights of up to 35 cm. The wild lesser glory-of-the-snow
is introduced last.

• Alba: An old cultivar of white that dates back to 1885 and grows 5 to 15 cm tall. Between March and April is when flowers bloom.
• Blue Giant has glory-of-the-snow flowers that are sky blue with a white center and grow up to 35 cm tall.
• Pink Giant: Up to 35 cm tall, pale pink floral variation. This lovely cultivar starts to bloom in March.
• A pink-flowered Chionodoxa cultivar called 'Pink Giant' can reach a height of 35 cm.
• Rose Queen' produces a lot of flowers that are dark pink with brilliant centers. The 'Rose Queen' Chionodoxa grows to about 15 cm.
• The glory-of-the-snow 'Violet Beauty' has a very unusual purple bloom color. It blooms starting in the middle of March and grows up to a height of 15 cm.

The Right Care of Glory of the Snow

Even when they have grown in, glory-of-the-snow is simple to maintain and does not require pruning. The low-maintenance early bloomers have medium nutrient needs. Therefore, the fertilizer supply could be exhausted on light, sandy soils after a few years. Reduced flowering or early leaf yellowing is the first sign of nutritional insufficiency.

For the soil to be frost-free starting in March, a loose application of a primarily organic slow-release fertilizer, such as our Plantura Flower Food, can be made around the crop. It can also be made in planting trays when repotting. The nutrients included in the animal-free fertilizer granules are gradually and gently released over the course of weeks and months. Thus, leaching and over-fertilization are successfully avoided.

Protection From Eradication

The first flowers to appear in nature after a long winter cannot help but be attractive and popular. This is precisely why the glory of the snow falls victim to ruthless predation.

Irresponsible nature lovers recklessly pluck them, making bunches of flowers. Furthermore, spring lawns are practically being cut up by enterprising traders who try to make such a natural wonder of nature a source of profit by taking advantage of the natural inclination of many persons wishing to buy flowers.

But it is not only for these reasons alone that this plant is becoming increasingly rare in its natural habitat. Other factors include the relentless digging of bulbs by enthusiastic gardeners. The decline of forests, damage to forest litter containing seeds and bulbs, and other environmental problems also affect the number of flowers.

The Red Book classifies the glory of the snow as a rare species, with a third category. So far, the beautiful flowers are not in danger of extinction, but they might nevertheless be in unfavorable conditions. To protect rare plants, nature reserves and sanctuaries have been established. There are strict restrictions on picking and selling the glory of the snow flowers.

Planting

In USDA zones 3 to 8, snow glory can be planted. Choose a sunny location to plant your bulbs in the fall. To avoid this flower fading too soon in too much direct sunshine, use a location with moderate shade if you live in a hot area. Plant the bulbs three inches apart and three inches deep in well-drained soil. If you anticipate a dry spring, you simply need to water them. By mid to late spring, the flowers will have done flowering, but the vibrant leaves will continue to grow until early fall. Don't trim it because it captures solar energy for growth the following season.

Put the glory of the snow in pots in the middle of October to push them indoors for the winter. Find a pot that drains appropriately and plug the drainage holes with broken china. The bulbs should be planted in your pot with soil mixture near one another but not touching. Ensure that the pointy ends are up, protruding from the earth, and nearing the pot's rim. Give the soil plenty of water so that it may settle around the bulbs. Putting the bulbs in a dark area where the temperature is between 38 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 weeks, such as a cellar,
unheated garage, or refrigerator, Regularly check to ensure the soil is still sufficiently moist.

Conclusion

When you get the bulbs, plant them as soon as you can. If you cannot plant the bulbs as soon as they arrive at your location, take them out of the plastic bags and lay them on trays with moist sawdust or peat moss in a cool, well-ventilated area until you have the opportunity to do so. Don't keep them in storage at temps below 4 °C. Unless otherwise noted, all fall-planted bulbs are typically hardy and do not require any extra protection.

The most crucial guideline for planting bulbs is to select a well-drained place. Where soil is consistently moist, most bulbs will quickly rot or decay. To bloom, most bulbs need at least 5 to 6 hours of sunlight each day. What kind of light conditions are preferred for each specific bulb or perennial variety are specified.

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