2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Chionodoxa (lat. Chionodoxa) - a light-loving, flowering perennial from the Hyacinth family.
Description
Chionodoxa is a small-bulbous spring-flowering perennial with tiny blue flowers. The bulbs of this plant are light, very dense and have a rounded-oval shape. Their diameter reaches two to three centimeters, and each bulb forms several flower stems at once.
The basal grooved broad-linear leaves of chionodox appear at the same time as the flowers, after which they die off rather quickly and almost imperceptibly already with the onset of May-June.
The star-shaped, wide-open flowers of the chionodox have six perianth leaves and can be either white or bright blue or dark blue with a fairly smooth transition to delicate white tones. And on each peduncle there are from one to six flowers. Chionodox blooms exclusively in April, and so abundantly and densely that leaves are completely invisible behind its luxurious flowers!
In total, the genus Chionodoxa has six species. Some people find that the chionodoxa is very similar to the woods, but this plant differs from the latter in that the stamens of the chionodoxa are extremely flat and are grouped right in the center of the flowers looking at the sky.
Where grows
Chionodoxa can be seen mainly on the island of Crete or in Asia Minor.
Usage
Chionodoxa Lucilia is mainly grown in the gardens. This beauty can be safely planted in the midst of a wide variety of ground cover plants, and it will look especially great in rockeries, alpine slides, as well as in the form of flower beds or free plantings on lawns. It is quite permissible to grow chionodox in containers, as well as for distillation, in borders, rabatkas or mixborders. However, it is important not to forget that the sprouts of her bulbs appear surprisingly early and easily break off even with a slight impact. That is why it is recommended that Chionodox be planted exclusively in those areas that are not used for walking, or for recreation, and even more so for children's games.
As for the partner plants, chionodox is best combined in plantings with Pushkinia, as well as with goose onions, primroses, scillas, hellebores, kandyks and crocuses.
Growing and caring
Chionodox should be planted in fertile, humus-rich and well-drained soils, either in the sun or in partial shade, trying to plant a beautiful plant under the crowns of a wide variety of deciduous shrubs or trees. At the same time, it is important to take into account that in sunny areas, chionodox will begin to bloom a little earlier, in partial shade its flowering will be later, but its duration will be much longer!
With the onset of early spring, the planted plants are fed with full mineral fertilizers (directly in the snow) - usually during this period, chionodox is especially in need of nitrogen. And after the fertilizers are applied, you can thoroughly loosen the soil (if the snow cover is relatively small). As for watering, the chionodoxa does not feel the slightest need for them, however, it is still quite allowed to water it during flowering. But regular weeding of this plant will definitely be required.
The beautiful chionodox is propagated by planting her daughter bulbs, which is carried out throughout the season, and during flowering as well. Reproduction by seeds is also quite acceptable. And this plant is usually planted in September, deepening it by about six to eight centimeters. As for transplants, they are usually done every five or six years.
