Description

Gratiola officinalis, commonly known as Summer Snowflake, is a charming perennial that adds delicate beauty to wetland gardens, pond edges, or naturalized spaces. This plant features pretty spires of white or pink flowers that are arranged in the axils of the leaves, creating a soft, elegant display throughout the summer months.

Native to damp pastures in regions like Switzerland, Gratiola officinalis thrives in moist, well-drained soils and is perfect for areas with standing water or wet conditions. However, it’s worth noting that, while beautiful, it can be toxic to livestock if consumed, so it’s best suited for ornamental gardens rather than grazing areas.

Features:

• Pretty spires of white or pink flowers blooming in the axils of the leaves
• Ideal for damp, well-drained soils, and wetland gardens or pond edges
• A delicate addition to naturalised or water garden landscapes
• Native to Switzerland, where it grows abundantly in damp pastures
• Caution: Can be dangerous to livestock if consumed

Add Gratiola officinalis to your garden for a graceful, summer-blooming perennial that brings a soft touch of colour to your wetland or water garden areas, with a delicate yet distinctive presence.

Repotting or planting

9cm marginal plants require potting into a larger mesh basket. Place in a pond no deeper than 1/3 maximum recommended planting depth to allow the plants to establish. 1ltr marginal plants do not require repotting, place in the pond no deeper than 1/2 maximum recommended planting depth to allow the plants to establish. 3ltr and 5ltr plants do not require repotting, as they are larger more established plants they can be placed up to the maximum recommended depth. There is no need to remove the mesh basket.

Care instructions

Little maintenance is required. Trim to tidy as required and after the foliage has died back in autumn.

Colour

White

Growth rate

Medium

Flowers

May-Sept

Sun/shade

Full sun -Part shade

Season

Spring, Summer

Measurements in centimetres

Height Min -Max

25-30

Depth Min-Max

0-5