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Leucojum vernum

Spring Snowflake

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Leucojum

Two white bells with yellow-green tips to their petals, nodding low over bare soil
FlowerSmihaelCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Bulb, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.7-1.5 ft20-45 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
4-6 in10-15 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Green, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Austria, Belgium, Czechia-Slovakia, France, Germany, Hungary and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
4-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Also called St Agnes' flower, after the patron saint of virgins. Native to central and southern Europe, from Belgium to Ukraine. Wikipedia: Leucojum vernum

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 8, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 7, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 90 days.

98% germination in 90 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166Public domain
Show the original text
Leucojum (Amaryllldaceae). Germination is hypogeal. L. vernum germ. 70(95% in 3rd m) and 40-70(98% in 3rd m) using my own seed. A sample from J. Gyer in New Jersey gave a much different germination pattern as shown by 70-40(43% in 12th w)-70(3%)-40(6%) and 40-70-40(37% in 12th w)- 70(1%). It is a mystery why one sample germ. predominately at 70 and the other predominately at 40. In either germination, the leaf (hypogeal) does not start to develop until after 3 m at 40. DS for 6 m at 70 or 40 is fatal.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 5, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 90 days to germinate.

95% germination in 90 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166Public domain
Show the original text
Leucojum (Amaryllldaceae). Germination is hypogeal. L. vernum germ. 70(95% in 3rd m) and 40-70(98% in 3rd m) using my own seed. A sample from J. Gyer in New Jersey gave a much different germination pattern as shown by 70-40(43% in 12th w)-70(3%)-40(6%) and 40-70-40(37% in 12th w)- 70(1%). It is a mystery why one sample germ. predominately at 70 and the other predominately at 40. In either germination, the leaf (hypogeal) does not start to develop until after 3 m at 40. DS for 6 m at 70 or 40 is fatal.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 14, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 13, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    6 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 2 run on after germination.

about 3 months from start to step 2. Germination happens during step 2, in 84 days.

43% germination in 84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166Public domain
Show the original text
Leucojum (Amaryllldaceae). Germination is hypogeal. L. vernum germ. 70(95% in 3rd m) and 40-70(98% in 3rd m) using my own seed. A sample from J. Gyer in New Jersey gave a much different germination pattern as shown by 70-40(43% in 12th w)-70(3%)-40(6%) and 40-70-40(37% in 12th w)- 70(1%). It is a mystery why one sample germ. predominately at 70 and the other predominately at 40. In either germination, the leaf (hypogeal) does not start to develop until after 3 m at 40. DS for 6 m at 70 or 40 is fatal.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 16, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 15, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    1 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 3 run on after germination.

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 84 days.

37% germination in 84 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166Public domain
Show the original text
Leucojum (Amaryllldaceae). Germination is hypogeal. L. vernum germ. 70(95% in 3rd m) and 40-70(98% in 3rd m) using my own seed. A sample from J. Gyer in New Jersey gave a much different germination pattern as shown by 70-40(43% in 12th w)-70(3%)-40(6%) and 40-70-40(37% in 12th w)- 70(1%). It is a mystery why one sample germ. predominately at 70 and the other predominately at 40. In either germination, the leaf (hypogeal) does not start to develop until after 3 m at 40. DS for 6 m at 70 or 40 is fatal.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Leucojum p. 166. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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