Flowers for the garden
Chionodoxa gigantea
Ch. gigantea Whitt.
Family Hyacinthaceae. Native range - the alpine belt of the mountains of Asia Minor.
A small perennial bulbous plant. Bulb ovoid up to 3 cm long, firm, pale. Leaves basal, narrowed at the top, at flowering time shorter than the scape, which reaches 10 cm in height, with one to five flowers 3.5-4 cm in diameter. The perianth is bright blue with a slight violet tinge, lighter in the throat. Begins flowering 5-6 days earlier than Chionodoxa luciliae. Flowers from the first half of April for 20-30 days. In cultivation since 1878.
