Snowdrops signal spring, even when the view outdoors may not look spring-like.
Oftenpoking up through the snow, theyre among theearliest flowers to bloom.
They are members of the amaryllis family in the genusGalanthus.
Credit: Sandra Gerdes
The common snowdrop,G.
nivalis, has been bred into hundreds of cultivars, including some with double blooms.
Snowdrops arefall-planted bulbsthat need a period of cold to flower.
Credit: Illustration by Agnese Bicocchi
They are smaller in stature than their spring-blooming cousins, the daffodils and tulips.
In early spring, they put on a show of dainty white blooms hanging and nodding from slender stems.
Snowdrops look best when planted in groups or small blocks and form tidy colonies when they are established.
Credit: Justin Hancock
The soonest to mow is about six weeks after blooming.
When ingested, snowdrop bulbs are toxic to dogs and cats, causing mild to moderate GI upset.
verify to place snowdrops out of reach of pets.
Credit:Lynn Karlin
They can be planted at the same time as tulips or daffodils.
Snowdrop bulbs are small, about the size of a nickel or dime.
Plant them about 3 inches apart, with their tops 2-3 inches below the soil surface.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Apply a layer of leaf or straw mulch after planting.
They should be planted about six weeks before the ground freezes.
Choose a spot with the correct light and soil conditions, and theyll return year after year.
Light
Snowdrops do well infull to partial sun.
Dont limit yourself to areas with summer sunshine.
Snowdrops set leaves and bloom before many deciduous trees leaf out.
As with all bulbs,good drainage is a necessity.
Wet, continuously soggy soilsmore common in wintercan cause the bulbs to rot.
A long period of temperatures below freezing triggers blooms in spring.
For this reason, Southern gardeners often have trouble growing fall-planted perennial bulbs such as snowdrops.
Fertilizer
Snowdrops planted in fertile soil that is high in organic matter dont need to be fertilized.
Pruning
Snowdrops dont need to be pruned ordeadheaded.
The leaves begin to die back about six to eight weeks after blooming.
Types of Snowdrops
There are a few different species and many cultivars of snowdrops to choose from.
Besides the beautiful standard white varieties, look for double-blooming specimens like Flore Pleno and Lady Beatrix Stanley.
Most varieties will grow inUSDA Hardiness Zones 3-9.
Giant Snowdrop
Giant snowdrop(Galanthus elwesii)is larger than most.
The plants can reach a foot tall and have larger blooms.
It looks nearly identical toG.
nivalisbut blooms in late autumn and isnt as cold hardy.
It is only suitable for growing in Zones 6-9.
Hyacinths
Early- to mid-spring bloominghyacinths(Hyacinthusspp.)
are available in shades of blue, pink, red, purple, and white.
Sweet-scented and hardy in the same climate as snowdrops, they make a colorful companion in the spring garden.
make wonderful companion plantings.
Choose dwarf daffodils to blend with snowdrops or full-sized varieties for islands of color.
They adapt well to naturalizing and provide a bright color contrast to white snowdrops and yellow daffodils.
The answer is yes and no.
Snowdrops need a period of cold, several weeks long at a minimum, to trigger blooming.
Liketulip bulbs, snowdrop bulbs planted in spring may sprout, but likely wont bloom.
Biological Activities of Snowdrop.National Institutes of Health
