Galanthus nivalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- gah-LAN-thus niv-AL-is
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Galanthus nivalis, or Snowdrop, is a bulbous perennial native to Europe and southwestern Asia. The plant has 2 or 3 strap-shaped, basal leaves and a solitary flower on a naked stem, 6-parted, white but with inner segments that have a terminal green mark. The inner petals are shorter than the outer three petals. Its flowers are a sure sign that spring is on the way as they bloom from late February to late March, even if snow is present.
It is easily grown in well-drained organic soils in full sun to partial shade. More moisture is needed if grown in partial shade. It grows particularly well under deciduous trees that provides full sun in early spring, but more shade as the leaves fill in. It prefers cooler climates and may be short-lived when grown south of Zone 7. It naturalizes easily through self-seeding and bulb offsets which can grow into large colonies. Plant 0-2 in. apart, 60 to 400 per sq. ft., 5 in. to base of the bulb. The plants spread rapidly and are often found in lawns, rock gardens, borders, and flower beds.
Commerce in wild specimens of G. nivalis is heavily restricted to preserve their survival; most nurseries now sell stock raised from artificial propagation of bulb offsets, scale cuttings or seed
Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:
There are no serious insect or disease problems; however, wear gloves when planting bulbs to avoid possible skin irritation. Leaf scorch can occur if the soil PH is excessively high.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Flore Pleno'
features double white flowers to 1 inch long - 'Viride Apic'
features white flowers with green marks on both inner and outer tepals
- 'Flore Pleno'
- 'Flore Pleno', 'Viride Apic'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Flore Pleno'
features double white flowers to 1 inch long - 'Viride Apic'
features white flowers with green marks on both inner and outer tepals
- 'Flore Pleno'
- 'Flore Pleno', 'Viride Apic'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Galanthus
- Species:
- nivalis
- Family:
- Amaryllidaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Bulb
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe and Southwestern Asia
- Distribution:
- Native to a large area of Europe, from Spain in the west, eastwards to Ukraine. Naturalized in North Carolina and Virginia as well as several other states.
- Wildlife Value:
- Polinated by bees.
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- deer resistant
- Edibility:
- Bulbs are toxic if eaten
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 0 ft. 10 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Poisonous
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5b, 5a, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is a more or less spherical capsule, 1/2 inch in diameter. The pale brown seeds are about 0.1 inch long.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Winter
- Flower Shape:
- Bell
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 6 petals/rays
- Tepals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- An early bloomer. A solitary, pendulous, bell-shaped white flower, held on a slender pedicel. 6-parted, white but with inner segments that have a terminal green mark. One solitary, campanulate, nodding, faintly scented, pedicel short and slender. Six perianth segments. Three outer segments are white, oblong, entire, obtuse, 1.5-2 cm. Three inner segments are white with apical green mark, entire, emarginate, cuneate, elliptic, shorter than outer 3 sepals. Flower scape terminated by large, green bract.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Each bulb generally produces two to three linear, or very narrowly lanceolate, grass-like, greyish-green leaves from its base. Basal, linear, usually paired, glaucous, 3.5 x .25" at flowering.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- The green scape (the leafless, flower-bearing stalk) is 2 to 7 inches long and bears a single erect flower bud, a spathe of 2 membranous bracts.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Naturalized Area
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Winter Garden
- Design Feature:
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Black Walnut
- Deer
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
