'Summer Snowflake'

Summer Snowflake, Summer Snowdrop, St Agnes’ Flower, St George’s Violet, Loddon Lily: but more often than not it’s botanical name is used…… Leucojum aestivum. 

A plant of the moment at Barnsley House as it heralds the red, white and blue phase of the Laburnum Walk (blue Brunnera, white Leucojum and Mount Tacoma Tulipos as well as red Apeldoorn Tulips). 

Brunnera and Tulip are yet to hit their stride; but now the Loddon Lily holds sway. It is a jaw dropping plant of the utmost simplicity and purity. If it’s emerging foliage had the slightest hint of grey or a glaucous tone this could be mistaken for Narcissus; but it’s grass green and each dot at the end of each of it’s six white petals a brighter lime green. 

It’s always confused me as it flowers in spring; but is called the Summer Snowflake and there is a separate Spring Snowflake, Leucojum vernum; but the latter does have a broader shallower bell flower, is shorter and does bloom earlier, I think. It loves good garden soil that stays cool, and is not baked in summer such as the Laburnum Walk. These particular plants were split up and redistributed in this corner of the garden in February 2015 (just as they were emerging), when the old Laburnums were removed and replaced with young trees. 

Since their division and transplanting they have thrived once more and are no longer straining for light under the mantel of the scenescent trees, lanky no more they sit sturdily and only flop over when they’ve done their bit and go back into the earth well before autumn arrives.  

The books say L. aestivum is slightly scented; I’ll have to revisit the Laburnum Walk and investigate.