Snowdrops: how to grow them and plant in the green
Snowdrops are easiest to establish when planted "in the green": that is, as growing plants with their leaves still on, lifted and replanted just after flowering in late winter or early spring. Plant them at the same depth they were growing before, in humus-rich soil in dappled shade, and they will spread into drifts over the years. You can also plant dry bulbs in early autumn, about 5 to 10cm deep, but they tend to take a little longer to settle in.
Why we love snowdrops
There is something special about the first snowdrops of the year. They appear when the garden is at its quietest, usually from January into March, pushing up through cold soil and even through snow. Each flower is a small white bell, with three outer petals and a tiny green-marked inner cup that you only really see when you tip the flower up.
They are also hardy, long-lived and remarkably easy once they are happy. Leave them alone for a few years and a small clump will slowly turn into a carpet.
Snowdrops worth growing
Galanthus nivalis: the common snowdrop, and the best for naturalising. Around 10 to 15cm tall, flowering from January to March.
Galanthus nivalis 'Flore Pleno': the double form of the common snowdrop, with frilly layered centres. It bulks up well.
Galanthus elwesii: the giant snowdrop, with broader grey-green leaves and larger flowers. Some forms start flowering earlier, from late autumn or early winter.
Galanthus 'S. Arnott': a classic, with large, rounded flowers on stems of around 15 to 20cm and a lovely honey scent.
There are hundreds of named snowdrops, and collecting them is a passion for many gardeners. For a natural drift, though, the common snowdrop is hard to beat.
What does planting in the green mean?
Planting in the green means moving snowdrops while they are still in leaf, just after the flowers have faded. Snowdrop bulbs are small and do not like drying out, so plants that are lifted and replanted while they are growing tend to establish much more quickly and reliably than dry bulbs bought in autumn.
You can buy snowdrops in the green from specialist nurseries in late winter and early spring, or lift and divide clumps from your own garden or a friend's. Always buy from a reputable supplier that sells cultivated stock, never bulbs collected from the wild.
Dividing a clump after flowering is the simplest way to turn a handful of snowdrops into a drift.
How to plant snowdrops in the green
When to plant
Plant as soon as the flowers have faded, usually from late February into March, while the leaves are still green. If you buy them in the green, plant them as soon as possible after they arrive, so the roots do not dry out.
Step by step
Choose a spot in dappled shade with soil that stays moist but not waterlogged. Under deciduous trees and shrubs is ideal.
Loosen the soil and add some leaf mould or garden compost.
Look at the base of the leaves: the white part of the stem shows how deep the bulbs were growing. Plant at that same depth, usually around 5 to 10cm.
Plant in small groups of three to five bulbs, about 5 to 10cm apart, rather than one at a time. Small clumps look more natural and settle in better.
Firm the soil gently around them and water in well.
Dividing existing clumps
If you already have snowdrops, dividing congested clumps every few years after flowering is a simple way to spread them around. Lift the clump with a fork, gently tease it into smaller groups of a few bulbs each and replant straight away at the same depth.
Planting dry snowdrop bulbs
If you are reading this in autumn, dry bulbs are an option. Plant them as early as possible, in September or October, about 5 to 10cm deep. Soaking them in water for a few hours beforehand can help them along. Expect a few to be slower to appear, and do not worry if the first year is modest: once settled, they will bulk up just like plants put in green.
Caring for snowdrops
Snowdrops need very little once they are established. The most important thing is to let the leaves die back naturally after flowering, as they feed the bulbs for next year. If you grow them in grass, hold off mowing until the leaves have yellowed, usually around six weeks after the flowers have faded. A light mulch of leaf mould in autumn suits them well.
What to plant with snowdrops
Snowdrops are lovely with other late winter flowers that enjoy the same conditions. Try them with winter aconites (Eranthis hyemalis), Cyclamen coum, Iris reticulata, ferns and hellebores. My guide on how to grow hellebores covers one of their very best partners. For later in the year, a few pheasant's eye daffodils in the same area will carry the bulb season through to May, as I describe in my post on the best daffodils for naturalising.
Snowdrops at a glance
Flowers: January to March, some earlier.
Height: around 10 to 20cm, depending on variety.
Position: dappled shade, under deciduous trees and shrubs.
Soil: humus-rich, moist but well-drained.
Plant in the green: late February to March, at the same depth as before.
Dry bulbs: September to October, 5 to 10cm deep.
Quick answers
When should I plant snowdrops in the green?
Plant them just after flowering, usually from late February into March, while the leaves are still green. Get them in the ground as soon as you can after lifting or buying.
How deep should snowdrops be planted?
When planting in the green, match the depth they grew at before, which the white part of the stem shows you. Dry bulbs go in around 5 to 10cm deep.
Do snowdrops spread?
Yes. Snowdrops slowly multiply by forming new bulbs and, in the right conditions, by seed. Dividing clumps after flowering helps them spread faster.
