snowflake - bulbs or tubers?

Hi, can anyone confirm whether the snowflake has a bulb, as I was expecting, or smallish tubers - all joined together? There is still some leaves left, and they look like snowflake leaves, but I am surprised to see the tubers. I'm clearing a border and need to confirm if these are actually snowflakes (which I'd like to keep), or the other possibility is a day lily which I remember seeing in the same area, (which I don't want to keep!) Any ideas? Thanks.

 

Hi Wrenhere, you are right Snowflake ( Leucojum ) is grown from a bulb. I am wondering if, perhaps, what you have are Snowdrops? David.

 

Hi David, thanks for your reply. They are definitely not snowdrops - snowdrop bulbs are individual, what I have is kind of skinny tubers, all clustered together. Are you saying that Snowflakes are definitely individual bulbs? If so, perhaps it's the day lily I've found. Wrenhere

 

Leucojum bulbs look exactly like Snowdrop bulbs, but bigger (if they are the Spring Snowflake that is.) Hemerocallis roots look like thinner Dahlia tubers, ie fat fingers descending from a central core and growing point/s.

 

Hi Palustris, yes they are spring snowflake, although where they've got to I don't know as your description confirms that I definitely have found the day lily tubers, so I'll hook them out and perhaps the Leucojum's will appear in the process.

This forum is so helpful - thanks very much!

Wrenhere

 

We have problems keeping the Leucojum vernale going. The bulbs just disappear, it could be mice or soil conditions. I can keep the tiny autumn flowering ones in the rock garden and in pots no trouble, other than hundreds of self seeded ones and distinguishing between the bulbs and grass!