Galanthus Around My Farm
It's that time of year when the first spring flowers emerge from the soil - among them are the delicate white early season snowdrops.
Snowdrops, Galanthus, are the nodding, crisp white flowers that dangle above clumps of strap-shaped leaves from January through March. I love Galanthus and have many different varieties here at my farm. The hardy fall-planted bulbs are easy to grow and multiply naturally providing carpets of stunning blossoms every year.
Enjoy these photos.
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- This is a snowdrop, Galanthus. The genus name refers to the white color of the flowers – gala is Greek for “milk,” while anthos is Greek for “flower”.
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- Snowdrops are characterized by three small inner petals and three outer petals, which are spoon shaped and longer than the inners.
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- Snowdrops should be planted in light to moderate shade and moist but well-drained soil.
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- When they start to push through the soil, two or three dark green, strap-like leaves come up first and grow four to 10-inches tall.
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- Galanthus is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. They are native to Europe and the Middle East.
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- One of the most cultivated is Galanthus nivalis, usually known as the garden snowdrop. Here is a view from above the base of the flower, where it begins to nod.
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- These flower heads can be ‘single’ – one layer of petals – or ‘double’ – multiple layers of petals. And notice the inner petals – they can be blotched heavily with green…
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- … or just tipped lightly with color.
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- On this snowdrop, both the inner and the outer petals are blotched. These markings are what make the snowdrops unique.
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- Some of the varieties I grow include ‘Hippolyta,’ elwesii ‘Mount Everest,’ elwesii ‘Polar Bear,’ nivalis ‘Magnet,’ ‘Sam Arnott,’ ‘ woronowii, plicatus Dionysus, nivalis ‘Viridi-apics,’ ‘Turncoat,’ ‘George Proverbs,’ and ‘Little Ben.’
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- And do you know… Galantamine, a substance found in the plant, is used to treat Alzheimer’s disease symptoms? Galantamine is found in a variety of plant sources, such as Amaryllis, Leucojum, and Narcissus.
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- However, snowdrops are toxic plants for humans, dogs, and cats.
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- Plant snowdrops in groups to create an eye-catching display come spring.
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- I’ve planted snowdrops in many different areas around the farm – outside my Winter House, in beds surrounding my Tenant House, under the large London plane trees in my maze, and in many other areas where they can be seen and enjoyed during the early days of spring.
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- This snowdrop is a double, making it even more interesting.
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- Underneath, one can see the multiple petals tinged in emerald green.
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- Snowdrops multiply by offsets – new bulbs that grow attached to the mother bulb.
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- Snowdrops are a pest-free plant. Rabbits and deer won’t eat them, and most chipmunks and mice leave them alone.
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- Snowdrops typically begin to bloom in late winter to early spring, usually from February to March in many regions.
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- Finally, don’t get them confused with this charming flower, the snowflake, Leucojum. Snowflakes, which are typically more lantern-shaped, with pointed, out-curved, green-blotched tips and segments that are each about the same length, will start blooming in April.
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