Glory-of-the-Snow is a compact bulbous perennial native to western Turkey, producing starry blue flowers with white centers very early in spring - often emerging through snow before most other plants stir. Botanists now generally classify it as Scilla forbesii, though the Chionodoxa name remains standard in the nursery trade.
Bulbs naturalize freely through offsets and self-seeding, building dense colonies over several years. Plant in fall beneath deciduous trees and shrubs: the leafless canopy admits full spring sun when the plant needs it, and the summer shade that follows is irrelevant because the plant is already dormant. Well-drained soil is critical; bulbs left in wet summer ground rot reliably. Established colonies provide low-maintenance early-season ground cover and supply nectar to queen bumblebees and other early-emerging pollinators when forage is scarce.
The bulbs are toxic, and deer, rabbits and rodents leave them alone. The flowers carry little scent, so it's the plant's chemistry, not a smell, that keeps animals off.
Botrytis (grey mould)
Grey fuzzy mould on petals and stems, worst in cool wet conditions.
Remove affected parts immediately. Improve air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply copper fungicide if severe.
Root rot
Plants wilt, yellow, and stunt even in moist soil; lower stems and roots turn brown, soft, and mushy and the plant may collapse. Most common in heavy, wet, or poorly drained ground.
Improve drainage and stop overwatering, and never plant too deep. Lift and destroy badly affected plants along with the soil around the roots. Grow in raised or free-draining beds to prevent it returning.
Fungal leaf spot
Brown or purplish spots on the leaves, often ringed with a yellow halo, that spread and merge in warm, humid, or wet weather; heavily spotted leaves yellow and drop early.
Pick off spotted leaves and clear fallen debris to remove overwintering spores. Improve air circulation by thinning, and water at the base so foliage dries quickly. If it persists, apply a copper- or sulfur-based fungicide at the first sign.