Galanthus nivalis
common snowdrop

© Great Plant Picks
© Richie Steffen / Great Plant Picks
Outstanding Qualities
Common snowdrop is a favorite prolific and reliable early spring bulb for the Northwest garden. Its delicate flowers appear in mid- to late February. Its outer pure white petals partly cover the inner petals, which are tipped with a characteristic green V-shaped mark. White blooms are set off by the narrow, glaucous gray-green leaves. Once established, the bulbs are long lived and lend themselves to dividing and naturalizing in the landscape. Large clumps are best divided after flowering and before the foliage dies back for the summer. This is one of the smallest and most enchanting of the snowdrops.Plant snowdrops under deciduous trees and shrubs, mixed with Crocus tommasinianus, Cyclamen coum, and Blechnum penna-marina.
Quick Facts
Plant Type: bulb
Foliage Type: deciduous
Plant Height: 0 ft. 5 in. (0.12 meters)
Plant Width/Spread: 0 ft. 2 in. (0.06 meters)
Hardiness: USDA Zones 3 to 9
Flower Color: white
Sun/Light Exposure: full sun or light to open shade
Water Requirements: occasional watering during the summer
Wildlife Associations: bees
Resistant to: deer
Colors & Combos
Great Color Contrasts: black, chartreuse, burgundy, blue
Great Color Partners: dark green, silver, variegated
- Culture Notes
- Plant this snowdrop in a site that receives full sun or light to open shade in late winter and early spring. It likes a rich well-drained soil in an area that gets occasional watering during the summer. Unlike many bulbs, they do not like to dry out in the summer. It is best to plant bulbs while they are dormant, large clumps should be divided immediately after flowering before the foliage dies back for the summer.