Chionodoxa Luciliae (Gigantea Group)

This is the largest-flowered of the Chionodoxas, with blooms up to 1½″ across in a bright violet blue with white eyes. (Like many blue flowers, 'Gigantea' seems more violet in photos than in real life.) Seeds itself freely to create lovely carpets. Great with early Narcissus, such as 'Tête-á-Tête'. Heirloom, 1878.

These Mediterranean natives bloom very early and produce sprays of 5-10 star-shaped flowers in glorious shades of blue, pink, and white. They can carpet the bare soil of perennial beds just starting into growth, or play off the leaf color of Bergenia, Heuchera, and Tiarella, or combine with other April-blooming bulbs, such as Crocus or Trumpet Narcissus. Superb for naturalizing in full sun to partial shade in rock gardens, woodlands, and lawns.

For more information on planting Chionodoxa, click Growing Guide.