Commonly known as Fair-Maids-of-February and Snowdrops, these dainty plants are one of the earliest
blooming bulbs, often seen pushing up through the snow to bloom. Their ethereal white flowers appear
when all else in the garden is still bound by winter.
Galanthus is a genus in the amaryllis family consisting of small bulbs that are among some of the
most charming, of the late-winter and early-spring-flowering bulbs. Native to the Mediterranean
region, they can be found growing in the mountainous woodlands of Turkey and Europe, and seem to be
hardy over much of the North Temperate Zone.
The white, drooping, globular or bell-shaped 1-inch flowers have a dab of green on each petal.
The green markings on the outside of the petals are found only on the tips. They are however
variable, and can be yellow or absent in some forms.
They produce clumps of slender, dark green leaves from 6 to 12 inches high. The narrow strap-like
foliage is linear, similar to a mini trumpet daffodil.
Snowdrops are suitable for borders, meadows, woodlands, and containers. They are especially pretty
naturalized in lawns or planted with winter aconite beneath trees and shrubs. Bulbs should be
planted in groups or drifts of at least 25 bulbs to make a good display.
Can be difficult to establish in the garden and may take several years to adjust to a new site, but
will eventually form dense colonies. Bulbs can be divided when the foliage matures and yellows.
