Taller than Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus elwesii, commonly known as Greater Snowdrop or Giant Snowdrop, also features larger flowers. Dainty, the nodding, white blooms display a double green mark on the inner petals that sometimes merge into one. They rise atop the foliage of bold, broad, silver-gray leaves which are reminiscent of those of tulips. This perennial is one of the earliest and loveliest spring flowering bulbs, adding several weeks of color and beauty to the garden from late winter - early spring.

Eranthis hyemalis (Winter Aconite) is a charming tuberous perennial that bursts from the ground in late winter (before crocuses) with cup-shaped, upward-facing, bright yellow flowers (1 in. wide or 3 cm), surrounded by divided leafy bracts. The foliage of rich green leaves, divided into several lobes, emerges after the flowers. Winter Aconites go dormant by late spring.

Few sights surpass a mixed planting of Cyclamen coum (Persian Violet) on an early spring morning! Award-winning Cyclamen coum is an early spring bloomer with lovely heart-shaped, glossy leaves and small but showy flowers in shades of white to rosy-purple with every hue in between. Adding several weeks of cheerful color and beauty to the garden in late winter - early spring, the blossoms are so abundant that they almost obscure the leaves! Very decorative, the leaves may be plain dark green but are also adorned with pretty silver patterns.

One of the brightest jewels of the winter border, award-winning Cyclamen coum 'Maurice Dryden' is a vigorous and delightful tuberous perennial with lovely rounded silvery leaves edged with dark green and small but showy white flowers flushed with purple at the mouth. Adding several weeks of cheerful color and beauty to the garden in late winter - early spring, the blossoms are so abundant that they almost obscure the leaves!