Photo By Janno Vaan

How to Grow and Care for Snowdrop

Snowdrop, also known as Common snowdrop, Fair maids of February, Candlemas bells, Candlemas lily, Common bells

Snowdrop requires minimal maintenance, thriving in cool to temperate climates. Special care points include ensuring well-drained soil and partial shade to mimic snowdrop's natural woodland habitat. Snowdrop is dormant in summer, so it's essential to avoid over-watering during this period to prevent bulb rot. With these conditions met, snowdrop typically proliferates and naturalizes, adding simplicity to care.

Watering schedule: Every week

Sunlight Requirements: Partial sun

Toxic to Humans

In This Article

Planting and Growing Snowdrop

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every week
Sunlight Requirements	Partial sun
Soil Type	Garden Soil
Soil pH	6-7.5
Planting Time	Early spring, Mid spring, Mid fall, Late fall, Early winter, Late winter
Hardiness Zones	3-10
Toxicity	Toxic to Humans

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Varieties of Snowdrop

Snowdrop 'Atkinsii'

Snowdrop 'Atkinsii' is bred from the snowdrop plant and named after a nineteenth-century English plantsman, James Atkins. It has unique bell-shaped white flowers that droop upside down with inner petals that carry a green heart-shaped marking at the tips. It is a tall cultivar that grows vigorously and is popular for its large, showy blooms and early spring flowering.

Snowdrop 'Flore Pleno'

Snowdrop 'Flore Pleno'‘s name means ‘full flowers’, and that’s because this snowdrop cultivar was developed to have large, white, double flowers that can be up to an inch long. It flowers in the late winter to early spring, which makes it a popular choice for gardeners who want to add color to their spring garden before other flowers bloom.

Snowdrop 'S. Arnott'

The snowdrop 'S. Arnott' is a cultivar from the amaryllidaceae family. It received its name from Samuel Arnott who loved gardening and especially snowdrops. One particular difference which sets the snowdrop 'S. Arnott' apart from other varieties is that the blossoms - and indeed the plant as a whole - are bigger than those of its counterparts. It gives off a wonderful aroma that smells like honey.

Snowdrop 'Flore Pleno'

The snowdrop 'Flore Pleno' is the oldest known cultivar of the snowdrop plant and can be found in illustrations dating back to 1703. This cultivar offers twice as many white flowers as the common snowdrop, with two large white blooms rather than just one. Though not toxic, the bulbs can irritate your skin if touched unprotected.

Snowdrop 'Magnet'

Snowdrop 'Magnet' is a popular snowdrop hybrid introduced over a century ago. Its snow-white flowers bloom on characteristically long and drooping pedicels. The interior petals have a distinctive magnet-shaped green marking at the petal tip. This pretty flower was awarded the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticultural Society.

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The Toxicity of Snowdrop

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More General Info About Snowdrop

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Snowdrop is discernible by its two or three lanceolate, basal leaves, which can range from 4 to 8 inches (10 to 20 cm) in length. Each plant typically bears a singular, pendulous flower atop a leafless stalk measuring up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. The flower exhibits a distinctive six-parted structure, primarily white, with the inner three tepals donning a noticeable green spot at their tips. The inner tepals are notably shorter than the more prominent outer series, contributing to the overall bell-shaped appearance of the bloom.