Scientific name: Galanthus nivalis
Family: AMARYLLIDACEAE
Common names: “common snowdrop” “candlemas bells” “purification flower”
Plant Type: Herbaceous bulb
Conditions:
Zone: 3-9
Light: partial shade (tolerate sun in Victoria)
Exposure: Sheltered
Soil: Humus rich soils
Moisture: Well drained moist soil that does not dry out in summer
Aesthetic:
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Plant Size: H 4″ W 4″
Leaf and Stem shape: Narrow, grey-green leaves
Flower: Solitary, nodding, fragrant white flowers with 6 tepals, the inner 3 petals marked with a green V-shape, blooms January – March
Maintenance: no pruning or maintenance required, plant 3″ deep and 3″ apart
Landscape use: good underneath trees and shrubs, flower borders and wildflower meadows
Propagate: by seed and division, if bulbs are planted too high, the will make a “dropper” which will divide off at a lower depth and they won’t flower that year.
Pests & Disease: none in Victoria
*Deer resistant
Comments: Best moved when they have green parts showing, toxic fluid in stem may cause irritation to some people
Cultivars: over 19 kinds, some can be very expensive
G. elwesii “giant snowdrop” – almost twice the size, 3 inner petals marked with more green (2 spots or 1 long continuous band), can tolerate drier gardens
