Syn.: Nivaria aestivalis Moench, Polyanthemum aestivale (Moench) Bubani
Family: Amaryllidaceae Jaume St.-Hil.

Leucojum aestivum

Distribution: Southern, western and central Europe (formerly northward to southern Poland), western Asia – from Ireland to northern Iran.

Ecology: It grows on wet meadows and marshes, along margins of riparian forests, in lowlands. It flowers in mid-spring, sometimes until June.

Leucojum aestivum

Description: Perennial herb with a bulb 25–40 mm in diameter. Leaves up to 10 cm × 5–20 mm, broadly linear, scape 35–50(–60) cm, equalling the leaves or slightly shorter, stout, 2-winged. Umbel of (1–)2–5(–7) flowers, spathe 30–50 mm, pedicels 25–70 mm, the longest equalling or exceeding the spathe, perianth-segments white, with a green spot just below the thickened apex. The fruit is a capsule.

Threat and protection: The Summer Snowflake is protected by law in Czechia, Hungary, France, Switzerland, Ukraine and Russia.

Use: Widely cultivated for ornament, and naturalized both within and outside its native range.

Leucojum aestivumLeucojum aestivum
Leucojum aestivumLeucojum aestivum
Leucojum aestivum

These images were taken in Czechia, Moravia, Dolní Podyjí (April 16 and 18, 2004; May 2, 2008).