Summer Snowflake
Leucojum aestivum 'Gravetye Giant'
Summer Snowflake is a bulb for bulb layer, suited to full sun to partial shade and clay, loam or moist ground, flowering Apr, May.
| Type | Bulb |
|---|---|
| Mature height | 60 cm |
| Spread | 15 cm |
| Aspect | full sun to partial shade |
| Foliage | Deciduous |
| Hardiness | USDA 4a-8b, RHS H7 |
| Pollinator-friendly | Yes |
| Pet-safe | No |
Where to use it in a border
At around 60 cm, it sits best through the middle of a border, between taller structure behind and edging in front. Give it about 15 cm of room to spread, roughly 7 to the metre when planted in a drift. It is hardy across USDA zones 4a to 8b and rated H7 by the RHS, so check it suits your area before planting.
It appears in our lists of shade, clay soil, wet soil, pollinator-friendly plants.
Border Builder uses Summer Snowflake's height, spread, soil, bloom months and companions to place it in a full border plan for your own conditions, on iPhone and iPad.
Flowering through the year
Worth knowing
- It copes with ground that stays wet, which most border plants will not.
- It tolerates a shaded, north-facing spot.
- Not recorded as pet-safe; site it away from pets that graze if that matters to you.
- Its flowers are valued by bees and other pollinators.
Good companions
Plants that share its conditions and style, chosen to complement its place in the border:
- Japanese Flowering Dogwoodfor height behind it
- Snowy Mespilusfor height behind it
- Allium 'Purple Sensation'to flower when it does not
- Bergenia 'Purpurea'to edge in front
- Blue Windflowerto edge in front
- Candelabra primulato edge in front