Fun Facts About Snowdrops

The Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) is one of the earliest flowering bulbs in the Northern Hemisphere, often blooming in late winter, sometimes as early as January. Its delicate, nodding white flowers emerge through frozen soil and even snow.

For bees, snowdrops are an important late-winter food source. On mild, sunny days, honey bees and early-emerging native pollinators will forage on snowdrops when few other flowers are available. While snowdrops offer modest nectar and pollen compared to some early bloomers, their value lies in their timing, providing vital forage when colonies are beginning to stir after winter dormancy.

Snowdrop flowers naturally hang downward, helping protect nectar and pollen from rain, frost, and snow. This nodding habit also conserves heat around the reproductive parts of the flower, making resources more accessible to bees during short winter foraging windows. Their early emergence often coincides with brief warm spells, when bees are most likely to take advantage of available blooms.

Planting Requirements for Snowdrops

Light:
Partial shade to full sun. Snowdrops thrive beneath deciduous trees, enjoying full winter sunlight and filtered shade as trees leaf out in spring.

Soil:
Prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Slightly alkaline to neutral soil is ideal, though snowdrops tolerate a wide range of soil types if drainage is good.

Spacing:
Plant bulbs 3 inches apart. Over time, snowdrops multiply gradually, forming naturalized clumps.

Planting Time:
Plant bulbs in fall. Snowdrops can also be successfully established “in the green” (shortly after flowering) in some regions. Light mulching helps protect bulbs and maintain soil moisture. Snowdrops can also be successfully planted in late winter (February) when planted “in the green,” meaning shortly after flowering while foliage is still present.

Zones:
Hardy in USDA zones 3–7. Snowdrops are exceptionally cold-hardy and regularly bloom through frost and snow.

Time of Bloom:
Late winter through very early spring, depending on climate. Snowdrops provide some of the earliest nectar and pollen sources available, supporting bees during the transition from winter dormancy to spring activity.