Description

Summer snowflake is an herbaceous perennial plant that flowers in spring. The flowers are white, nodding and easily identified by the small green spot on the outer tip of the petals and petal-like sepals that resembles nail polish on a fingernail. It is found throughout the eastern U.S. from Maine to Illinois, south to Texas and also in California and Oregon. It has been reported to be invasive in Fairfax County, Virginia, in habitats shared by fig buttercup (Ficaria verna) and garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) and is likely invasive elsewhere. Snowflake could be confused with other low-growing spring-flowering lilies with white flowers such as snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis), nodding star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum nutans), fairy lily (Zephyranthes candida) and others.