Leucojum aestivum

A deciduous bulb growing to 0.5m tall and 0.5m wide.

A lovely winter-flowering bulb, producing tall stems of up to 8 flowers, pendulous bell-shaped white flowers on each stem, often with green tips. Leaves are bright green, long and narrow.

Prefers full sun to partial shade in moist but well-drained soil. Will tolerate wetter, clay, soils.

This little bulb can either be planted as a dry bulb or a potted bulb when in growth. Dig a hole large enough to take the bulbs easily, at a depth of around twice the depth of the bulb, carefully firm in and water. Planting too near the surface for bulbs can often result in them being dug up by hungry birds or animals.

Apply an organic mulch annually to help suppress weeds and conserve moisture. Feed annually in spring with a balanced fertiliser such as blood and bone at a handful per square metre in spring as new growth begins. Tidy leaves away once they have died down in summer. Divide clumps of bulbs when dormant in summer.

Generally trouble-free.

Spring Blossom Valley

This bulb has naturalised and can often be seen growing wild in fields around Auckland.