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When Do Snowdrops (Galanthus) Flower?

Plant Combinations, Flowerbeds Ideas, Winter borders, Spring Borders

Snowdrop Bloom time, Snowdrops Bloom time, Galanthus Bloom time, Snowdrop Blooming time, Snowdrops Blooming time, Galanthus Blooming time, Spring Borders, Winter Borders, Companion Planting, Galanthus, Milk Flowers, Galanthus nivalis, Galantus elwesii

Prized for their abundant blooms, Snowdrops (Galanthus) are invaluable additions to the garden and provide gardeners with some of the greatest pleasures. Nothing is more uplifting than a carpet of white flowers under bare winter trees. Appealing and highly versatile, these harbingers of spring are tough, cold-hardy, deer or rabbit resistant, and easy to grow bulbous perennials. Remarkably resilient, they even bloom beneath a blanket of snow if they have to. They are fabulous at bringing sparkles to the winter garden when most plants are still dormant and bring huge amounts of optimism and great joy.

  • There are 20 different Snowdrop species and several hundreds of hybrids. Yes, several hundred (!). The craze known as Galanthophilia has swept through the ranks of gardening enthusiasts in the past few years. While all snowdrops look the same to the uninitiated – dainty, nodding white flowers, with a dab of green, held on a thin arching stalk at the end of a thicker stem – they reveal their differences when you take a closer look. Some bear single flowers with 3 large outer petals enclosed 3 smaller inner ones. Others feature double flowers with many inner petals resembling petticoats. The foliage of 2-3 strap-like leaves varies considerably across species and cultivars (wide, narrow, twisted, etc).
  • Some Snowdrops bloom extremely early and can show up weeks before crocuses do. Others can be found in flower in late May.
  • It should be noted that weather conditions have a huge influence on the flowering season of Snowdrops.  The same Galanthus species can bloom considerably earlier or later from one year to the next, depending on how cold or warm the weather is.
  • In the United Kingdom, the earliest snowdrop varieties bloom in October before they are joined by most in February when the winter is slowly receding. In milder areas, these Snowdrops will bloom earlier, while they will raise their milky-white heads from the sleeping earth much later in warmer areas. Once in bloom, they will last longer if the weather remains cool.
  • In the United States, where a wider range of weather conditions exists, the Snowdrop season generally starts in October and ends in April, with the peak season being in February and March. In warmer areas, the blooms will start 2-3 weeks earlier, while they will occur 2-3 weeks later in cooler areas. In the South, snowdrops may even bloom all winter long.
  • Wherever Snowdrops grow, they generally follow a sequence wherein the ones starting the season typically end it as well.

Galanthus Flowering Season

Season Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere
Fall October – November April-May
Very Early November- December May – June
Early December – January June – July
Peak Season January end – February July end – August
Late February end – March August end – September
Very Late March – April September – October

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, A1, A2
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Genus Galanthus
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early)
Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit, Clay Soil
Landscaping Ideas Ground Covers, Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden

Favorite Early Season Galanthus Species and Cultivars

Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’ (Snowdrop)
Galanthus ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ (Snowdrop)
Galanthus elwesii var. monostictus (Greater Snowdrop)
Galanthus reginae-olgae (Autumn Snowdrop)

Favorite Midseason Galanthus Species and Cultivars

Galanthus ‘Magnet’ (Snowdrop)
Galanthus ‘Primrose Warburg’ (Snowdrop)
Galanthus elwesii (Greater Snowdrop)
Galanthus nivalis (Snowdrop)
Galanthus nivalis F. pleniflorus ‘Flore Pleno’ (Double Snowdrop)
Galanthus nivalis Sandersii Group (Snowdrop)
Galanthus plicatus ‘Wendy’s Gold’ (Pleated Snowdrop)

Favorite Late Season Galanthus Species and Cultivars

Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’ (Snowdrop)
Galanthus ‘Straffan’ (Snowdrop)

Snowdrops Cultural Requirements

  • Snowdrops thrive in full sun to part shade. They grow particularly well under deciduous trees where exposure to the sun is full in early spring but gradually changes to part shade as the trees leaf out.
  • Snowdrops grow in average, moist, well-drained soils. They do not welcome soils that are too fertile, so adding compost, manure or fertilizer should be avoided. The soil mustn’t dry out in summer

While extraordinarily good-looking on their own, Snowdrops however look most charming when planted with companion plants. Well-behaved, they make perfect partners with other plants and help create strikingly beautiful combinations in the garden. Choose the right companion plants and extend the season of interest in your garden

Garden Examples

A Cheerful Idea For Your Early Spring Garden
A Flower Carpet for Your Early Spring Garden
Add Sparkles To Your Early Spring Garden
An Exciting Idea For Your Early Spring Garden
Compare All Galanthus (Snowdrop)
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Galanthus (Snowdrop)
While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.

Guide Information

Hardiness 3 - 8
Heat Zones 1 - 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, A1, A2
Plant Type Bulbs, Perennials
Genus Galanthus
Exposure Partial Sun, Shade
Season of Interest Spring (Early)
Winter
Maintenance Low
Water Needs Average
Soil Type Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained
Characteristics Cut Flowers, Fragrant, Showy
Tolerance Deer, Rabbit, Clay Soil
Landscaping Ideas Ground Covers, Patio And Containers, Beds And Borders, Underplanting Roses And Shrubs
Garden Styles City and Courtyard, Gravel and Rock Garden, Informal and Cottage, Prairie and Meadow, Traditional Garden
Compare All Galanthus (Snowdrop)
Compare Now
Explore Great Plant Combination Ideas
Galanthus (Snowdrop)

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