snowdrop Galanthus nivalis ☂part shade ❅hardy ★ award

• 14 Feb, 2013
• 12 likes

Preferred common namecommon snowdrop
FamilyAmaryllidaceae

Galanthus are dwarf bulbous perennials with linear or strap-shaped leaves, and solitary, often honey-scented, nodding flowers with 3 white outer tepals and 3 smaller inner ones often marked with green

G. nivalis is a perennial to 15cm, with narrow, grey-green leaves and solitary, nodding, fragrant white flowers 2.5cm in length, the inner segments marked with green at the tip

Other common names
Candlemas bells
Candlemas lily
common bells
fair maids of February
little sister of the snows
purification flower
Suppliers
Suppliers listed in RHS Plant Finder

Awards
Award of Garden Merit
How to growSunlight
Part shade Aspect
South-facing, North-facing, West-facing or East-facing
Exposed or Sheltered
Cultivation
Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer
Soil
Well-drained or Moist but well-drained
Acid, Alkaline or Neutral
Chalk, Clay, Sand or Loam
Propagation
Propagate by seed, sown in containers in an open frame when ripe or division when foliage dies back. Seed may not come true

Suggested planting locations and garden types
Cottage/Informal Garden, Flower borders and beds, Rock Garden, Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs or Wildflower meadow

How to carePruning
No pruning required

Pests
Can get narcissus bulb fly and slugs
Diseases
May be infected by a grey mould
CharacteristicsPlant type
Bulb

Habit
Tufted

Fragrance
Flower

Toxicity
Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset; contact might irritate skin

ResilienceHardiness
H4 (hardy)
ColourFlower
Green and White in Winter

Foliage
Green and Grey/Silver in Spring and Winter

SizeUltimate height
0.1-0.5 metres

Ultimate spread
0-0.1 metre

Time to ultimate height
2-5 years