Flowers · Bulbs
Common snowdrop
Galanthus nivalis
The familiar winter snowdrop, with nodding white bells and a green mark on the inner petals. It does best in soil that stays cool and leafy.
Growing conditions
Soilclay, loam, chalk
Moisturemoist, well-drained
pHneutral, alkaline
Position
SunPartial sun, Shade
Aspectnorth, east, west
Exposuresheltered
HardinessH5
Size
Time to maturityEstablishes over 1–2 years
Max height0.1–0.2 m
Max spread0.1–0.2 m
In the garden
Plant in the green after flowering, or as dry bulbs in autumn if they have not dried out. Light shade under deciduous shrubs suits them.
Squirrels disturb fresh plantings. Congested clumps can be split as the flowers fade.
Colour and scent
A mark in a season means the plant is doing that for at least part of it.
| Season | Foliage | Flower | Scent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Leaves | — | — |
| Summer | — | — | — |
| Autumn | — | — | — |
| Winter | Leaves | white | — |
- Janwhite
- Febwhite
- MarFoliage
- AprFoliage
- MayDormant
- JunDormant
- JulDormant
- AugDormant
- SepDormant
- OctDormant
- NovDormant
- DecDormant
Jobs
These dates suit a mild southern garden. A northern or Scottish plan shifts spring and autumn jobs by a fortnight.
1 March
Move in the green
Split and replant snowdrops just after flowering, while the leaves are still green.
1 October
Plant dry bulbs
If you plant dry bulbs, do it promptly in early autumn and water them in.