Chionodoxa forbesii is commonly referred to as the Glory-of-the-Snow because it flowers early enough that its flowers often protrude directly from the snow. The generic name is derived from the Greek words chion, which means snow, and doxa, which means glory.
This small bulbous plant, native to Crete, Cyprus, and western Turkey, belongs to the family Asparagaceae. It is closely associated with the Scilla genus (and was previously part of it). Like Scilla, it can be propagated and naturalized under good conditions. There are 6 species[1] in the Chionodoxa genus.
The small, upturned flowers are pale blue with a whitish center, making them nearly translucent or glassy. The star-shaped blooms have 6 petals that extend almost flat over a width of ½ to ¾ of an inch.
Each bulb produces a cluster of 5 to 10 purple flowers on brownish stalks. Thus, bouquets of flowers can be cut for small bouquets. The medium green, striped leaves die off in summer. Plants reach about 6 inches in height.
