Jane wrote " If I could grow L. vernum effectively, I'd be campaigning for a bulb of this interesting plant. However, both L. vernum and L. aestivum fail to flourish here and rarely bloom, probably because the soil (acidic, fast-drying) is wrong for them. In contrast, L. autumnale and the purportedly tender L. nicaeense do well in the open rock garden, though I don't depend on their surviving there indefinitely, once they encounter winter temperatures more severe than average. The larger species, which come from wet meadows, grow well at lower elevations near my home, where the soil tends to be dense and silty rather than the rocky subalpine forest stuff I have here; this suggests to me that it's the drainage, not the acidity, that is inhospitable to these plants." I think you are right on all counts. L. vernum fades away here in the spots that get too dry too regularly but does fine in the spots that stay moister, naturally or artificially. All sites are acid. Another Leucojum that has surprised me outside is L. tingitanum. This has been in the sandy bed in front of the house for the past three years, though I don't remember putting it there. It has flowered better as time has gone by and even though that is the most sheltered spot in the garden it has still seen temps between 5 and 10F, and been covered in deep snow many times. That spot also gets morning sun so the leaves will get lots of freeze/thaw cycles. It is in the same spot as Ipheions Alberto Castillo, Rolf Fiedler and Charlotte Bishop. J. John T Lonsdale PhD 407 Edgewood Drive, Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, USA Home: 610 594 9232 Cell: 484 678 9856 Fax: 801 327 1266 Visit "Edgewood" - The Lonsdale Garden at http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/ USDA Zone 6b