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.