Description of 20 varieties and types of Chionodox, planting and care in open ground

Chionodoxa is a winter-hardy perennial plant that, with proper planting and care, blooms in open ground. It began to be cultivated in the 18th century, and scientists gradually developed many species and varieties, with different colors, length of shoots and density of inflorescences. Many varieties are popular with gardeners; they begin flowering in mid-season, when many crops begin to leaf out.

Description and features

A perennial bulbous plant, the stems reach a height of 10–12 cm, in rare cases they grow up to 15 cm. The flowers are winter-hardy, one of the first to bear flowers. The inflorescences are solitary and have 5–6 petals. The color can be blue, light purple, blue, pink, white depending on the variety and type. After flowering, it forms capsules with seeds. The bulbs are oblong, ovoid, covered with scales. The roots fall off after one year of flowering, and the bulbs sprout 2 years in a row.

Landing

Planting plays an important role in the further flowering of the plant. You need to know the timing, favorite places of Chionodoxa, the correctness of the planting process, and the proximity to other plants.

Deadlines

Since the plant begins to bloom when the snow has not yet completely melted, the bulbs are planted in the fall. During this period, the bulbs gain strength in order to produce strong flower stalks in the spring.

Site selection

Chionodoxa prefers well-lit areas or those in partial shade. It is not recommended to plant bulbs in full shade; they will sprout, but there will be no flowering. Places under trees with spreading leaves that open buds at the end of the plant's flowering are suitable.

Important! When growing Chionodoxa in a sunny area, flowering occurs several days earlier than in the shade.

How to plant

The soil should be loose and nutritious, well drained. Holes are made in the selected area, the distance between them is 10 cm. An onion is deepened into each hole. The larger the bulb, the deeper it is immersed.The smallest ones are added dropwise at 4-6 cm, and the largest ones at 6-8 cm. After planting, nitrogen fertilizers are applied. Forest soil is also scattered near the planting; it has a positive effect on the development of Chionodoxa.

Neighbours

Snowdrops, flowers that bloom in early spring, are suitable for growing together with Chionodoxa. Chionodoxes are planted next to shrubs and under trees that have sparse foliage, and create average shade. The best neighbors are:

• primrose;
• hyacinth;
• crocus;
• iris;
• Adonis;
• Pushkinia;
• hellebore.

Care

For successful flowering and development of the plant, it is necessary to maintain proper watering, loosening and weeding of the soil, periodic replanting, mulching, and fertilizing with fertilizers.

Watering

During dry periods, plants need frequent watering. It is important that the soil at the base of the roots does not dry out. When watering, water is poured under the leaves so that drops of water do not fall on them. For irrigation, use pre-settled or rainwater.

Loosening and weeding

To improve soil aeration and nourish the bulbs, periodically loosen the soil around the plant. Along with loosening, all weeds are removed, which deplete the soil and impair the flowering of Chionodox. Loosening is carried out after each watering and rain.

Mulching

Mulching is carried out for the winter; the root area of ​​​​the flowers is covered with spruce needles or forest moss. This provides additional protection from severe winter frosts. If you leave the shelter for the growing season, this will ensure the preservation of moisture at the roots.

Transfer

For replanting, at the end of July, flowers are dug up along with the bulb. By this time, the plant has completely faded, the foliage begins to dry out and droop. The bulbs are dug up and left until autumn in a cool, dark place.Before the next planting, the babies are separated from their mothers.

Top dressing

Mineral complexes containing nitrogen are used for feeding. They are distributed in a small layer at the roots. This is how Chionodoxa absorbs nutrients faster.

Wintering

The plant is winter-hardy and tolerates any frost well. However, it is recommended to cover the chionodoxes after planting with moss or spruce needles.

Reproduction

Reproduction is carried out by vegetative methods, seed methods and forcing.

Vegetative

After flowering, the plant forms bulbous lobes, which can be divided to form two independent flowers. After digging, the bulbs are left in a cool place, and before planting they are divided according to the line of shares. Afterwards they are planted according to all the rules.

Seminal

For seed propagation, you need to collect seeds from the shoots in time. If you miss the moment, the boxes burst and the seeds scatter on the ground. They attract the attention of ants, who carry them throughout the area. The seeds are collected and seedlings are prepared at home, and later the plants are transferred to the ground.

Important! Chionodoxa grown from seeds begins to bloom in the second year of the growing season.

Forcing

The bulbs are planted in a pot in the fall and placed in a cool place. After 2 months, they take it out to a warm place and begin to water it. After some time, the plant will sprout and begin to bloom. After flowering ends, the bulb is removed for storage and planted again the next season.

Diseases and pests

Chionodoxes are resistant to disease, but with increased flooding, the soil is exposed to diseases and pest attacks.

Gray rot

It is formed when the soil moisture is high. The bulbs begin to rot. The plant blooms and develops poorly, the leaves turn yellow and dry.

Fusarium

The disease is caused by a microscopic fungus. It appears as dark spots on Chionodox leaves. They gradually turn black, dry out and fall off. Infection slowly spreads to neighboring shoots and flowers. At an advanced stage, the bulbous part is also affected.

Septoria

Microscopically, it is a fungus that forms dark spots with a red rim on the leaves. A light spot forms inside the spot; 20–25 of them form on one sheet.

The leaves turn yellow and dry out; this disease affects the quality of flowering of the plant.

Sclerotinia

A microscopic fungus that primarily affects mature plants. Watery spots form at the base of the stem, gradually they grow and the stem rots, capturing the lower leaves and roots.

Meadow tick larvae

The insect lays larvae in the soil, which feed on the roots of plants located in the soil. In Chionodoxa, the larvae infect the bulbs, they eat them from the inside, after which they become unsuitable for subsequent planting.

Mice and moles

Rodents that live in the soil and feed on plant bulbs. It's difficult to fight them. To get rid of them, rodent traps with poison are installed on the site.

Important! To prevent the occurrence of diseases and insect attacks, it is recommended to treat with chemicals at the beginning of the growing season.

Kinds

Chionodoxes have several main types. Some of them began to be cultivated back in the 18th century. Later, as a result of the work of breeders, many species and varieties appeared.

Forbes

It produces the tallest shoots, which reach up to 25 cm. It blooms with delicate blue flowers, with a light center. There are 3–4 flowers on one inflorescence.Each of them consists of 5 petals.

Lucilia

The second name is Chionodoxa gigantea. Forms tall peduncles up to 20 cm. On the shoots there are flowers collected in inflorescences of 2-3 pieces. They are white, hairless, pink or purple in color. This is the very first species that began to be grown on their own plots.

Sardinian

Flowering begins at the end of March. The bulbs are brown in color and produce numerous bright blue flowers, about 20 mm in diameter. Shoots reach 12 cm in height. About 10 flowers bloom on one plant.

Dwarf

Flowering occurs in April or May. Of all the representatives, it produces the shortest shoots, which are up to 11 cm in height. At the top there are inflorescences of 2–3 flowers, with colors ranging from soft blue to pale pink.

Whitish

The bulb is medium in size, covered with a brown skin. The shoots are low, about 12 cm, the flowers are small. 1 cm in diameter, white or pink in color. The leaves are straight, dark green. Inflorescences are solitary.

Mistress Lok

A little-studied species, the shoots are low, about 12 cm. At the top there are blue or purple flowers, collected in inflorescences of 7–8 pieces. Flowers are 2 cm in diameter.

Popular varieties

The most popular plant varieties are used by gardeners in different regions. They delight the eye with their bright colors at the very beginning of spring, when many crops are just beginning to wake up.

Alba

The variety belongs to the Lucilia variety. The plant is not picky in choosing soil. It takes root well and grows on any soil. The height of the shoot is 14 cm, it blooms with white flowers with a yellow core.

Blue giant

Flowering occurs in May and lasts 2 weeks.The shoots reach 15 cm, the inflorescences are dense, consisting of 8 - 10 blue flowers. The core is white, the flowers are small.

Pink giant

The flowers are soft pink. Shoots are 15 cm high, green. Inflorescences contain 3–4 flowers. The core is light. Flowering occurs in May or early June.

White

The height of the shoots is up to 12 cm, flowering begins in late spring. Large white flowers are located at the top. The shoots are located tightly next to each other. The bulbs are brown and covered with scales.

Pink

The perennial plant produces soft pink flowers with a light center. The flowers are large, up to 35 mm in diameter. Peduncles of medium length from 10 to 12 cm.

Queen

The perennial produces large, soft pink flowers with yellow stamens. The leaves are located closer to the ground and have a brown-green color. The flowers are densely arranged. One inflorescence contains 5–6 flowers.

Watercolor

Belongs to the Sardinian species. The flowers are collected in dense fluffy inflorescences, the flowers are blue, star-shaped, shoots up to 10 cm high. The middle of the flowers is white.

Artemis

Belongs to the Sardinian Chionodoxa species, the shoots are low up to 10 cm. Flowering begins in mid-spring, the flowers are small blue, with 5–6 flowers collected on one inflorescence.

Absolute

A bulbous plant with average shoots of about 12 cm, flowers are bright, blue, with a light center. Flowering lasts more than two weeks. They take root well in shaded areas.

Atlantis

Belongs to the Sardinian plant species. The bulbs produce shoots 10–12 cm long, the flowers are light blue, almost white, with yellow stamens in the center. The inflorescences are lush.

Arctic

A hybrid of the Sardinian species Chionodoxa, it grows in any soil and is unpretentious in care.The shoots are 9–12 cm high; white star-shaped flowers are formed at the top, collected in lush inflorescences.

Violet Beauty

Low growing perennial plant. It produces bell-shaped flowers of bright purple color with a light center. The flowers are large, up to 4 cm in diameter. Prefers to be planted in places with variable lighting.

Mixture

Flowering occurs in May and June. A low-growing plant, shoots 13 cm long. A feature of the variety is the presence of flowers of different colors on one plant: blue, purple, pink, lilac.

Blue white

It belongs to the Forbes species, produces tall shoots up to 25 cm, with large blue flowers with a white center at the top.

The leaves are green with a brown tint, located near the ground.

Use in landscape design

Many gardeners use Chionodoxa in landscape design. I use them for a multi-stage design, planted at the lowest level, next to evergreen shrubs and other flowering plants. Flowers adorn trees and shrubs in early spring, when foliage has not yet formed on them. They also form beds with chionodoxes next to borders or large stones. Combines well with other bulbous plant species.

Reviews

Valentina 65 years old, Novorossiysk

Chionodoxas are one of my favorite flowers. I like the ease of care and early flowering. While all the crops in the garden are just about to form foliage, Chionodoxa pleases the eye with its bright colors. I plant Blue White and Pink Giant varieties.

I plant each type of bulb one at a time. In spring you get a combination of pink and blue flowers.

Arkady 45 years old, Perm

I have been doing floriculture for a long time, one of my favorite pastimes. I have been planting chionodoxes since the fall; my wife and daughters love them.I use varieties Alba, Atlantis, Arctic. The plant easily tolerates frost and does not require special care. In the spring I fertilize with nitrogen fertilizers. In mid-July I dig up the bulbs for storage. These varieties are especially popular for their flowering.

Alena 30 years old, Tver

My favorite varieties are Chionodoxa Violet Beauty and Queen, I also plant Absolute and Mixture. I chose a place for the bulbs next to the roses. While the bushes are gaining green mass, Chionodoxes delight with their bright multi-colored flowers. They are easy to care for; I leave the bulbs in the ground for the winter and don’t cover them with anything. After flowering, around mid-summer, the plants are dug up and the bulbs are left in the cellar until spring.