Galanthus nivalis
- Common Name: Snowdrop
- Height: 20-25 cm
- Spread: 8-15 cm
- Exposure: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Colour: white
- Bloom Time: Early Spring
- Plant Type: Bulb
- Soil Moisture: Average
- Plant Uses: Alpine and Rock, Attracts Bees, Border, Deer Resistant, Edging, Rabbit Resistant
- Zone: 3A
- Description:
Snowdrop is one of the first blooms in early spring. Botanically known as Galanthus nivalis, it features a bell-shaped single-species flower which drips off a long thick stock. The waxy, white blooms have six petals, three inner and three outer. In the fall plant bulbs 5-7 cm deep and apart, with a sprinkle of bulb fertilizer. The fresher the bulbs, the better chance they have to establish. Once established they are easy to divide.
These graceful plants can grow up to 20-25 cm tall, with a spread of 8-15 cm. They do well in rock gardens, under deciduous tress, in borders, or blended into a lawn. Don’t remove spent foliage because bulbs absorb the nutrients back for the next year. Foliage will disappear by late spring.
Galanthus nivalis is part of the Amaryllidaceae family (amaryllis family). There are a number of hybrids available, including the double flowering G. nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’ or the Giant Snowdrop G. elwesii (Zone 4). They also look great planted with other early spring bloomers such as glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa forbesii), or Siberian squill (Scilla siberica).
- Other: They are toxic to humans, dogs, and cats.
