Leucojum

This spring when I was in Paris, France, I was at a Sunday market and noticed several women selling little bouquets of muguet de bois. Of course, I had to buy a bunch just to smell the wonderful fragrance.

It reminded me of the little bottles of Coty cologne that was the only scent I was allowed to wear as a young girl. Muguet de bois, or Lily of the Valley, is one of those spring-blooming plants beloved by people who live up north. However, it does not like our not-cold winters and blazing hot and dry summers.

While I cannot find a plant that reproduces that wonderful fragrance, we do have a bulb that mimics the dainty plant with the white bell-shaped flowers – Leucojum, or summer snowflakes. Leucojum is a genus of bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family that are native to Eurasia. There are only two known species.

Leucojum vernum, or spring snowflake, is native to southern and central Europe, from Spain to the Ukraine. Leucojum aestivum, or summer snowflake, snowdrop or St. Agnes flower, is native to Europe, the Middle East and the Caucusus. It has been naturalized in Australia and North America. It is this latter variety that interests us here.

Leucojum is an easy-to-grow bulb that will give dependable blooms anywhere across the country. Here in East Texas, they bloom lushly and develop into large clumps. They are not picky about soil type, but do want soil that is well drained. Wet soil will cause the bulbs to rot. Plant the bulbs in the fall in groups of 15 for the best effect, and in the spring the bulbs will produce narrow strap-like leaves 12 to 18 inches high. In late March to early April, small bell-shaped white flowers that have a green spot at the end of each sepal appear on delicate stems. Leucojum perform best when left undisturbed for long periods of time, and for this reason, they are not recommended for containers. They are best left to naturalize in drifts in borders, rock gardens on under trees.

Bulbs will be available for purchase Saturday and Sunday from the Smith County Master Gardeners at the Texas Rose Festival Arts and Crafts Fair in Southside Park.