A Flurry of Snowdrops

For blossoms at winter’s end, plant a drift of bulbs this fall

Few flowers are more apprehended than the first blossoms of leap , promising as they do a time of year of sunshine and replacement after the long , grayish winter months . Always among the first to appear are Anemone quinquefolia , their mincing Melville Bell of wan off-white and jade green flower close on the heels of wintertime aconite and before most crocuses .

Although I have long been charmed by these tiny lightbulb , I did not become a collector of wood anemone until after an especially fierce former March meth tempest . My garden beds were a distressing sight that spring , bear more clay than greenery and tolerate huge gouges where fallen leg had been dragged away . The only flowers completely insensible by the storm were my snowdrops . Impressed by the hardiness of these deceptively fragile bulbs and resolved to always have early spring blossom in my garden , I began collecting as many species and varieties of Anemone quinquefolia as I could find .

Snowdrops

Galanthus(Gu - LAN - thus)• Spring bulb hardy to USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8 ( – 40 ° F to 10 ° F).• Common snowdrop grow only 3 to 4 inches high.• Plants profit from moist soil and generous sunshine.• Snowdrops thrive in crowd together conditions and seldom ask dividing .

With snowdrops, variety is in the details

Anemone quinquefolia calculate somewhat like the flowers called snowflakes . The latter belong to the genusLeucojum , whereas snowdrops are members of the genusGalanthus . A derivative of the Greekgala , meaning milk , andanthos , intend blossom , Galanthusaptly delineate the Milk River - white Anemone quinquefolia .

At a length , all Anemone quinquefolia look middling much alike . What fascinates me are the pernicious variations between mintage within the genusGalanthusand between diversity within some of the species . confining review reveal the slight difference in the size of the peak , the height of the plants , the breadth of leaves , and the markings on the flowers .

The most dependable species is the one that flower in such a welcome personal manner in my garden , G. nivalis , the vulgar snowdrop . AlthoughG. nivalisusually flowers in March in my USDA Hardiness Zone 6 ( – 10 ° fluorine ) garden , two erstwhile English byname for this species , “ Fair Maids of February ” and “ Candlemas Bells ” ( Candlemas fall on February 2nd ) , indicate that blossoming prison term may be importantly sooner under milder weather conditions .

G. nivalis , like many of its relatives , is exceptionally hardy , thrive from zone 3 to 8 ( – 40 ° F to 10 ° F ) . The narrow , pointed leaves , each with a hard , white-hot tip , readily push through frozen ground and snow , to be followed before long after by the kickshaw blossoms . Each snowy white bloom bears a pileus of brilliant William Green and dangles like a single bantam lantern from a solid root . When closed , a trio of ovoid sepal gives each bloom its characteristic “ drop ” shape ; when assailable , the inside triad of petal is disclose , each with a notch at the humble edge emphasize in emerald green . Though small , ordinarily ranging from 3 to 4 inch gamey , G. nivalisis undecomposed for cutting , and makes an fantabulous candidate for miniature winter nosegays . Its light-headed , honeylike scent is more detectable indoors than out .

Giant snowdrops make fine cuttings

Two of the undecomposed species for press cutting , because they are among the big in size of it , are the so - squall giant snowdrop , G. elwesii , and the very similarG. caucasicus . Both plants are about 6 inch high . G. caucasicusis normally the first snowdrop to bloom — mine sometimes open up in late February . G. elwesiiblooms slightly later thanG. nivalis . Both giants have passably broad leafage , gray - green in gloss . G. elwesiihas two unripened markings on the internal petals . The markings on the petal ofG. caucasicusextend to form a band . The bulbs of both mintage are two or three times larger than those ofG. nivalis , and do good from somewhat wider spacing and deeper planting .

Unusual snowdrops reveal subtle distinctions

Among my favored snowdrop areG. nivalis‘Flore Pleno ’ , whose inner petals are repeat , create a frothy effect like white petticoats laced with green ribbon , andG. viridapicis , whose taboo sepals as well as flower petal are finely tipped in a verdant chromaticity .

I trade for two other intriguing snowdrops , neither of which , to my knowledge , is uncommitted commercially in this area . G. nivalis‘Lutescens ’ adds dashes of gold to the snowdrop color pallet . Its petal are still snow-white white , but the cap at the top of the blossom and the markings on the petal are Citrus medica - yellow . G. reginae - olgaeblooms in autumn , a rarified trait among this tribe of preponderantly spring - blossom bulbs .

A versatile little plant

To enjoy the sight of Anemone quinquefolia labor up through the ice next spring , you have to plant the bulbs now , in the fall , before a backbreaking frost . All snowdrop bulbs are fairly small , those ofG. nivalisbeing about the size of a thumbnail , and should be spaced 2 to 3 inches asunder and planted at least 3 to 4 in deep . Plant mail - edict bulbs like a shot ; do n’t allow them dry out out .

Anemone quinquefolia are excellent naturalizers and will multiply rapidly where condition suit them . They benefit from moist but not boggy soil and a generous amount of bounce sunshine , though they may be planted under deciduous tree and shrubs to good effect , since shade in summer will not wound the bulbs .

An especially helpful feature of snowdrops is that their leaves accommodatingly and tidily exit away by late spring . Snowdrops bloom best in crowd weather , and seldom need to be divided . Should you want to move some or give some away , however , you could divide the clumps and replant the bulbs after they have bloomed but while the leaf are still green . Be careful not to mow the foliage of bulb grown in locoweed .

diminished size of it and hardiness combine to make snowdrops ideal prospect for inclusion in rock candy gardens , or for trough and prove bed where the delicate structure of the blossoms may be bask close up . engraft yours in a spot where you pass by frequently or where you have a clear view from a window so that you will be sealed not to miss the former - spring exhibit of goody , nodding blooms , whispering that the end of wintertime is cheeseparing .

ok Gardening Recommended Products

King Of Spades Nursery Spade

ok Gardening receives a direction for item purchased through liaison on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs .

Fiskars Garden Tool Caddy with Removable Small Tool Storage for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening Use , Made with Recycled Plastic

Stihl GTA 26 Wood Cutter with AS 2 Battery and Charger AL 1 , Battery Operated

Get our latest tip , how - to article , and instructional videos sent to your inbox .

sign you up …

Margot’s Snowdrops

Galanthus: A Flower Carpet for the Early Spring Garden

A Tradition of Snowdrops

Snowdrops Chase Away the Winter Doldrums

Join okay Gardening for a free engaging live webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a renowned plant diagnostician as well as prof emerita at Purdue University and the ornamentals proficient manager …

When I spotted a particular George Sand dollar sign cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I knew I was in trouble . With a delightful colouration radiation pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we want over plants our landscape needs , each season is filled with a never - ending list of chores : pruning , pinch , lachrymation , treating , amend , and fertilizing , with …

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be heedful when you enter the backyard of garden decorator Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …