Leucojum aestivum Gravetye Giant - (Giant Snowflake) Fragrant Flowers
This robust selection has much larger flowers than the species. It looks like a giant Lily-of-the-Valley. Smashing with Narcissus and midseason to late Tulips of every hue you can imagine. This heirloom was introduced by William Robinson, the influential 19th-century Irish garden writer who spurned Victorian bedding schemes and pioneered a more natural style of gardening at his home, Gravetye Manor.
Leucojum aestivum, commonly called summer snowflake, blooms in mid-spring (April-May), but goes dormant by summer. 'Gravetye Giant' is a robust, larger-flowered version of the species. Strap-shaped, glossy dark green leaves (to 16-18â long and 1â wide) form an upright, vase-shaped clump of foliage. Typically 2-5 (less frequently to 8) nodding, bell-shaped, white flowers (each to 1 1/2" long) appear at the top of arching, naked, hollow flower scapes (to 24-30") in spring. Each flower has three similar looking sepals and petals (tepals) that are spotted at the tip with green. Flowers are mildly fragrant. Cultivar name honors Gravetye Manor, the Sussex home of horticulturist and garden writer William Robinson (1838-1935) who introduced this plant.
Garden Uses
Borders, rock gardens. Under trees or shrubs. Pond or stream margins. Best planted in groups of at least 15 bulbs. Can put on a spectacular flowering display when naturalized in large drifts.
GROWING
Easily grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. Adapts to clay soils. Plants need consistent moisture during the spring period of growth and bloom. After dormancy in summer, they will tolerate drier soils, but will appreciate a summer mulch which helps keep soils moist and cool. Plant bulbs 3-4â deep and 4-6â apart in fall. Bulbs are best left undisturbed once set in the ground. Plants will naturalize well by bulb offsets.
