Leucojum vernum (spring snowflake)

The spring snowflake is native to Central Europe (extending to Belgium, the Pyrenees, northern Italy, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) and has become naturalised in other regions, such as the British Isles and North America.

Leucojum vernum herbarium specimen (Image: RBG Kew)

The spring snowflake has small, underground bulbs up to 3 cm in diameter. The leaves measure 10-25 x 5-25 mm, have ligules (leaf sheath projections) and appear during the flowering period. The scape (flower-stalk) is 12-35 cm long, usually exceeding the leaves in length, with a central cavity and two narrow wings. The flowers are generally solitary, rarely in pairs. The spathe (sheathing bract) measures 2.5-4 cm in length and has one valve. The perianth segments (petals and sepals) are 1.5-2.5 cm long and are white with a green or yellow spot just below the thickened apex. The stigma (female part) is club-shaped and slightly longer than the stamens (male parts). The whitish seeds measure around 7 mm and have a strophiole (outgrowth associated with animal dispersal) that is attractive to ants, which are allegedly the dispersal agents.

Leucojum vernum flowers from February to April, and the seeds ripen in July. The flowers are hermaphrodite (having both male and female organs) and are pollinated by bees.

The two recognised varieties are readily distinguished: L. vernum var. vernum has green spots on its tepals and is widely distributed, while L. vernum var. carpathicum has yellowish spots on its tepals and is restricted to the Carpathian Mountains. 

Recent research at Kew has suggested that eight species previously included in the genus Leucojum should be moved to the genus Acis. Two species, L. vernum and L. aestivum (summer snowflake), remain in the genus Leucojum; they are characterised by wide leaves, flowers with markings, hollow scapes and a widespread distribution across Europe and the northern Mediterranean. In contrast, Acis species have narrow leaves, flowers without markings, solid scapes, a west Mediterranean and North African distribution and most species are narrow endemics (restricted to a very small area).

Like Leucojum aestivum (summer snowflake), Leucojum vernum is an attractive ornamental and grows well in damp grassland or woodland situations, where it can become naturalised. Both species tolerate waterlogged soils, and can be planted to good effect on the margins of ponds or alongside streams in the wilder parts of a garden.

Numerous species in the family Amaryllidaceae contain antiviral alkaloids that can be used for medicinal purposes. Some studies have suggested that the bulbs of L. vernum contain alkaloids with high anti-retroviral properties against the HIV-1 virus.

Kew's Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault.

Description of seeds: Average 1,000 seed weight = 12.04 g.
Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: One.

Spring snowflakes can be seen growing in the Woodland Garden (situated around the Temple of Aeolus) at Kew from February to April.

Dried and spirit-preserved specimens of Leucojum vernum are held in the Herbarium, one of the behind-the-scenes areas of Kew. The details of some of these specimens, including an image, can be seen in the on-line Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew's databases for more information on this species

Kew Science Teams - Monocots I: General Alismatids & Lilioids

Natural England – Leucojum vernum