PL. —Galanthus nivalisBotanical illustration — drop image
Peak bloom windowZone 6b · frost-offset weeks
Winter
Peak bloom
Spring
Not in bloom
Summer
Not in bloom
Fall
Not in bloom
Peak bloom
In bloom
Background
Snowdrops are the earliest harbinger of spring — white pendant flowers nodding above the snow in February, sometimes pushing through a light frost without complaint. They naturalise freely in light woodland, under deciduous trees, and in lawn margins, forming expanding drifts over years. Plant bulbs 'in the green' (immediately after flowering, while still leafy) for best establishment; dry bulbs planted in autumn are much less reliable.
Snowdrops are best appreciated in mass plantings where the scale compensates for their small size. They are too delicate for cutting and too short-lived out of the ground to be worth the effort — enjoy them where they grow.
Good companions
Care guide
SunPartial shade; woodland edge conditions ideal
WaterLow — relies on winter/spring rainfall; summer dry is fine
SoilHumus-rich, moist but well-draining
Spacing2–3 inches
Height3–6 inches
Zone3a – 7b
WinterHardy bulb — leave in ground permanently.
Frost hardy
spring
sowPlant 'in the green' immediately after flowering — do not let bulbs dry out
watchAllow foliage to die back naturally after flowering
watchDivide congested clumps every 3–4 years just after flowering, while still in leaf