Snow Drops 18 Feb 2023 - v1
Snow Drop (Galanthus nivalis)
Perhaps the first sign that spring is just around the corner is the snowdrop poking its way through the frosted soil of a woodland, churchyard or garden.
From January, look for thes famous nodding, white flowers.
The snowdrop is a familiar spring flower, coming into bloom in January and and February, flowering up until March whatever the weather, they will even push through frozen, snow-covered ground. Despite its long history in the UK, however, it may not actually be native here; it is a native of damp woods and meadows on the continent, but was not recorded as growing wild in the UK until the late 18th century.
Nevertheless, it has certainly become naturalised from garden escapees, and white snowdrop 'valleys' can now be seen across the country in woodland, parks, gardens and grassland. Listed as "Near Threatened" on the global International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
As they flower so early, snowdrops do not rely on pollinators to reproduce. Instead, they spread via bulb division. However, they may still be visited by bees and other insects on a particularly warm day.
Common names: snowdrop, common snowdrop, flower of hope.
Scientific name: Galanthus nivalis
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Origin: non-native
How to identify
Standing around 7–15 cm tall, snowdrops have white bell-shaped flowers at the end of an erect flowering stem with two to three leaves. Snowdrop plants often form clumps.
Leaves: narrow to linear in shape, smooth and dull grey-green in colour.
Flowers: lack petals and are composed of six white flower segments known as tepals (they look like petals). The inner three tepals are smaller and have a notch in
the tip, with a green upturned ‘v’ pattern visible.
Not to be confused with:
Summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum). Unlike snowdrop, this flower has a green spot marking on the end of each petal and the petals are of equal length; spring
snowflake (Leucojum vernum) is also similar but all of its petals have a yellow-green mark on the end, which are absent on snowdrops.
Although known for their small, white bell-shaped flowers there's an incredible range of snowdrops to grow. Snowdrop fanatics will 'collect' different varieties,
featuring flowers in different sizes and with different markings, colour changes and numbers of petals. To the amateur gardener, a snowdrop is a snowdrop, but to the
expert each and every one is a collector’s item with a significant difference.
Planting
These plants dislike very dry, sandy soils, especially in full sun that dries out around the bulbs out in summer. Snowdrops will grow in most soil types, apart from
permanently wet soil, preferably in partial shade, around deciduous trees and shrubs is ideal.
Propagation
Propagate snowdrops by lifting, dividing and replanting. Established clumps can be lifted and divided after flowering in March or April. With a hand fork carefully
lift the bulb (with roots intact) and foliage still in place. Replant in the garden straight away. Water well. Don’t worry if the foliage looks a bit sorry, as by
next winter they should be healthy and strong.
Did you know?
In Yorkshire, it was customary for village maidens to gather bunches of Snowdrops and wear them as a symbol of their purity on February 2nd, which was was the
Christian festival of Candlemas, the feast of the Virgin Mary. It was often used to decorate churches during the celebration. This earned it the alternative name
of Candlemas Bells.
During the Second World War, British citizens nicknamed American soldiers 'snowdrops' due to their green uniforms with a white cap or helmet.
Traditionally, snowdrops were used to treat headaches and as a painkiller. In modern medicine a compound in the bulb has been used to develop a dementia treatment.
Snowdrop bulbs are poisonous if eaten.
Mythology and symbolism
The flowering of snowdrops is one of the first signs that winter is drawing to an end. As a result, the flower has long been viewed as a symbol of hope for better
times ahead. However, to see a single snowdrop flower was once viewed as a sign of impending death and it was considered bad luck to take one into a house.
Snow Drops 18 Feb 2023 - v1
Snow Drop (Galanthus nivalis)
Perhaps the first sign that spring is just around the corner is the snowdrop poking its way through the frosted soil of a woodland, churchyard or garden.
From January, look for thes famous nodding, white flowers.
The snowdrop is a familiar spring flower, coming into bloom in January and and February, flowering up until March whatever the weather, they will even push through frozen, snow-covered ground. Despite its long history in the UK, however, it may not actually be native here; it is a native of damp woods and meadows on the continent, but was not recorded as growing wild in the UK until the late 18th century.
Nevertheless, it has certainly become naturalised from garden escapees, and white snowdrop 'valleys' can now be seen across the country in woodland, parks, gardens and grassland. Listed as "Near Threatened" on the global International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.
As they flower so early, snowdrops do not rely on pollinators to reproduce. Instead, they spread via bulb division. However, they may still be visited by bees and other insects on a particularly warm day.
Common names: snowdrop, common snowdrop, flower of hope.
Scientific name: Galanthus nivalis
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Origin: non-native
How to identify
Standing around 7–15 cm tall, snowdrops have white bell-shaped flowers at the end of an erect flowering stem with two to three leaves. Snowdrop plants often form clumps.
Leaves: narrow to linear in shape, smooth and dull grey-green in colour.
Flowers: lack petals and are composed of six white flower segments known as tepals (they look like petals). The inner three tepals are smaller and have a notch in
the tip, with a green upturned ‘v’ pattern visible.
Not to be confused with:
Summer snowflake (Leucojum aestivum). Unlike snowdrop, this flower has a green spot marking on the end of each petal and the petals are of equal length; spring
snowflake (Leucojum vernum) is also similar but all of its petals have a yellow-green mark on the end, which are absent on snowdrops.
Although known for their small, white bell-shaped flowers there's an incredible range of snowdrops to grow. Snowdrop fanatics will 'collect' different varieties,
featuring flowers in different sizes and with different markings, colour changes and numbers of petals. To the amateur gardener, a snowdrop is a snowdrop, but to the
expert each and every one is a collector’s item with a significant difference.
Planting
These plants dislike very dry, sandy soils, especially in full sun that dries out around the bulbs out in summer. Snowdrops will grow in most soil types, apart from
permanently wet soil, preferably in partial shade, around deciduous trees and shrubs is ideal.
Propagation
Propagate snowdrops by lifting, dividing and replanting. Established clumps can be lifted and divided after flowering in March or April. With a hand fork carefully
lift the bulb (with roots intact) and foliage still in place. Replant in the garden straight away. Water well. Don’t worry if the foliage looks a bit sorry, as by
next winter they should be healthy and strong.
Did you know?
In Yorkshire, it was customary for village maidens to gather bunches of Snowdrops and wear them as a symbol of their purity on February 2nd, which was was the
Christian festival of Candlemas, the feast of the Virgin Mary. It was often used to decorate churches during the celebration. This earned it the alternative name
of Candlemas Bells.
During the Second World War, British citizens nicknamed American soldiers 'snowdrops' due to their green uniforms with a white cap or helmet.
Traditionally, snowdrops were used to treat headaches and as a painkiller. In modern medicine a compound in the bulb has been used to develop a dementia treatment.
Snowdrop bulbs are poisonous if eaten.
Mythology and symbolism
The flowering of snowdrops is one of the first signs that winter is drawing to an end. As a result, the flower has long been viewed as a symbol of hope for better
times ahead. However, to see a single snowdrop flower was once viewed as a sign of impending death and it was considered bad luck to take one into a house.