Galanthus nivalis (Common Snowdrop)
Michael's Opinion
Great for naturalizing and a harbinger of spring that no garden should be without. A class, reliable plant!
Botanical Information
| Family | Amaryllidaceae |
| Genus | Galanthus |
| Species | nivalis |
| Category | Bulbs, Perennials |
| Origin | Found in meadows and hillsides throughout Europe from the Pyrenees Mountains to Ukraine. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 7b - 8a |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | 7b |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H5 (I have successfully grown this plant easily in H7) |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | -15 to -10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 5 - 14 |
| Height | 10 - 50 cm |
| Spread | 10 cm |
| Growth | Fast |
| Flowering Period | March, April |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Dwarf bulbous perennial. |
| ID Characteristic | Narrow green leaves with solitary nodding white flowers. |
| Landscape | It should be used 'en masse' in woodland gardens, meadows, or as an underplanting under ground covers. Planted under Hamamelis 'Arnold Promise; produces a double promise of spring. |
| Propagation | Clumps may be divided 'in the green': lifting clumps and dividing when in full foliage or lifting and dividing dormant bulbs in late summer. Use caution when 'dividing in the green' as broken roots will not re-grow until the following season unlike other perennials. |
| Cultivation | Easily cultivated in most free draining soils. |
| Pests | Grey mould. |
| Leaf Description | Each bulb generally produces two linear, or very narrowly ( 6 mm wide and 10 cm long) lanceolate, greyish-green leaves and an erect, leafless scape. |
| Flower Description | Atop a pair of bract-like spathe valves joined by a papery membrane emerges a solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped white flower, held on a slender pedicel. |
Photographs
Galanthus nivalis f. plentiflorus 'Flore Pleno'.
Scanning electron microscope image of pollen grain.
Awards
