Frühlings - Knotenblume, Märzenbecher

created by Alex&Sempi at 18.03.2025

Season Overview

Sowing

Harvest

1ST YEAR

FOLLOWING YEARS

Description

The spring snowdrop (Leucojum vernum) is also known as the spring snowdrop, March bell or snowdrop and comes from the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae). The name comes from the striking ovary. It lies above the flower bell and looks like a knot-like thickening of the flower stalk. A second distinctive feature is the characteristic light green tips of the white petals. The home of the marsh fritillary is riparian forests and moist mixed deciduous forests in southern and central Europe. Larger, strictly protected occurrences can be found in Germany on the Franconian Alb and in southern Lower Saxony. The plant is on the Red List of endangered plant species. It must not be dug up in its natural habitat, but should always be purchased from specialist dealers to prevent further decimation of the population. The bulbous flower grows to a height of 10 to 30 centimetres and retracts very early after flowering in April - it often disappears again by the end of May and begins its dormant phase, which is typical of bulbous plants and lasts until the following spring. Like all knot flowers, the marsh campion is a very persistent, herbaceous plant that forms bulbs as survival organs. These are four to five centimetres in size and have a brown outer shell. In spring, basal, linear leaves and a single flower stalk sprout from the bulb. In small groups by the garden pond, it produces its first flowers before the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris). It harmonizes very well with the checkerboard flower (Fritillaria meleagris), which also prefers moister soils. The marsh campion also cuts a fine figure in humus-rich soil under deciduous trees and shrubs. In order to achieve a good area effect, groups of at least ten bulbs should always be planted in the fall. This will show off the relatively small plant to its best advantage. Suitable partners are winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis), crocuses (Crocus) and ray anemones (Anemone blanda). Wherever the knotweed feels at home, it quickly becomes overgrown - i.e. it spreads through the formation of breeding bulbs and self-seeding. Like all bulbous plants, knot flowers rejuvenate themselves by forming daughter bulbs. These can be removed from the soil after the foliage has yellowed and replanted. Specimens that have self-seeded can be dug up in late summer and planted in another location. As the plants are slow to develop, it usually takes several years before they flower for the first time. It is therefore not usually worth sowing them in seed trays.

Non hybrid

Frostproof