Description
(formerly Leucojum nicaeënse)
A rare native of a few localities in southern France, in the region of Nice (hence the Latin name) where it grows wedged into limestone rocks on the summits (only) of steep-sided limestone plateaux.
Despite its rarity and its limited habitat this is surprisingly easy to grow and very distinct.
It has narrow, flat, deep green, grassy foliage and short spikes of 10-12cm each with one to three, heavy-textured, miniature, crystalline, white bells in April. Ideal potted under frost-free but cool glass and very lovely. Like all Acis, it will not be hardy in a pot, if it is frozen through but it is seemingly hardy here outside over several years now planted a bit on the deep side, in a well-drained, raised bed, with overhead protection from excess water at the appropriate time of year.
Makes pleasing increase by both seed and a few offsets each year, if happy. To achieve this, a well-drained, loam-based compost or soil with a slight (not too severe) summer rest is perfect. Lime is fine but is not essential, good drainage is.
We have now discontinued the old, unprovenanced, horticultural stock that we used to grow and instead (from 2019) we are offering a fresh stock, raised both here and by a fellow grower. This is still a horticultural stock but it is one worked up from a few bulbs which I originally found on the summit of the Baou de Saint-Jeannet, west of the valley of the Var and NE of Cannes in April 1979, at 800m altitude, growing in cracks in limestone pavements.
