Snowdrops (Galanthus sp.) look delicate, but these tiny flowers are quite tough. The milk-white color of these small blooms is lovely set against a green backdrop of groundcovers or small shrubs.
They are one of the earliest plants to flower in the Mid-Atlantic US. Their common name is a nod to the fact that they can come up through snow and ice and are not fazed by either.
Galanthus nivalis is the most common snowdrop and widely available in garden centers and plant catalogs. There are other varieties that you can collect and some can be quite pricey. Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus ‘Flore Pleno’ is a lovely double form and Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’ is known for the green heart-shaped mark at the top of the inner petals.
Snowdrops are in the amaryllis family and grow from tiny bulbs. They are native to southern Europe and Asia Minor. They are hardy from USDA Zone 3 to 7. Like many early-blooming bulbs, they can be grown in deciduous shade spots, but not under evergreen shade. They prefer soil that is well-draining.
Plant the bulbs in autumn about 2 inches below the soil level. They look best in masses and drifts. If you have an especially rare or interesting selection, then plant that in a spot where you can easily view it and keep an eye on it.
If you have them planted in your lawn or among other perennials, let the snowdrop foliage die off naturally and do not cut it back prematurely. The energy for next year’s flowers is collected in that foliage. They do not generally need fertilizing, but you can give them a fertilizer designed for use on tomatoes to encourage more rapid growth, if you like.
Snowdrops increase slowly in clumps and it is worthwhile to dig and divide them after their bloom cycle and the foliage is starting to die back. This can be done every 3-5 years or so. Plant them right away as the snowdrop is one bulb that hates to be left to dry out.
Snowdrops - You Can Grow That!
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