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Key characteristics

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Height: 18 to 24 in
Width: 10 to 14 in
Foliage color: Medium to dark green, strap-shaped leaves Flower color: Pure white, bell-shaped flowers with distinct greenish markings near the tips of the petals
Bloom time: Mid to late spring
Light: Full sun to partial shade
Water: Moderate moisture
Maintenance: Low, remove spent flowers after bloom, allow foliage to die back naturally before removal
Growing zone: USDA zones 4 to 9
Wildlife: Bees and other pollinators

Bulbs

Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant'

Gravetye Giant Summer Snowflake

Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant' produces graceful stems bearing nodding, bell-shaped white flowers, each petal tipped with a soft green mark. The blossoms are noticeably larger than those of the species, giving the plant a fuller presence when in bloom. Flowering in mid to late spring, the blooms rise above upright, strap-shaped green leaves that add clean vertical lines and fresh color to the garden.

Selected in England in the early twentieth century at Gravetye Manor, this cultivar has remained valued for its robust flowering habit.

Light

Full sun to partial shade

Water

Moderate moisture

Bloom time

Mid to late spring

Find this plant

Works well in

Borders
Cottage Gardens
Under Trees
Woodland Gardens
Containers

Companion plants

Columbines · Lungworts · Daylilies · Crocuses · Heucheras · Lady's mantle

Design tip

The early flowers arrive when the garden is still waking up, so give it a spot you pass often in spring. Plant in generous groups rather than single spots, and set them among perennials whose new growth covers the fading foliage.