Chionodoxa forbesii 'Giant blue'

Chionodoxa (or Scilla) blooms so early (February-March) that it often even sticks its flowering stems through melting snow, hence its name Glory of the Snow. In Greek 'chion' means snow and 'doxa' means glory. With forbesii in the name, James Forbes (1773-1861) is honored. He was a British botanist who worked as a gardener for a duke at Woburn Abbey. A large flowered food source for (early) bees and ideal for naturalising.

Each bulb produces 2 to 3 narrow leaves and a flower stalk that is topped with a loose raceme of up to 10 flowers. The dark-coloured stem accentuates the intense blue colour of the six upward-facing leaves that form small stars with a radiant white heart in the middle. Plant them in great numbers for a blue wow effect or let them shine in a border or pot.

Flowers in Febuary-March

Height: 15 cm