Flowered snowflakes and snowdrops look confusingly similar to each other. At least to an untrained eye. In fact, the two types of flowers share some characteristics. The difference lies in the fine details. We'll tell you what they are.

Spring cups have yellow or green dots at the top of their petals

Flowers, the most distinctive feature

Snowdrop is the better known of the two plants. There will hardly be anyone who does not have their picture in their mind's eye. Even children are enthusiastic about its delicate appearance. This may also be due to the fact that it bravely defies the cold snow. In its heyday, there was hardly any competition to be taken seriously. Its white bell-shaped flowers are one of the most beautiful things to see in nature so early in the year.

But stop! Then there's the March cup. It also forms small bell-shaped flowers. Admittedly one or two per stem, while the snowdrop sticks to a single specimen. But its bells are just as bright white as the snowdrop. If you want to see the differences, you really have to take a second look and then take a closer look.

The subtle differences

Nature never creates copies! She has also unmistakably equipped these two early bloomers. This is how the two white bell flowers differ:

  • March cups have six petals of equal length
  • there is a point at the tips of the leaves
  • the dots are yellow or green and therefore clearly visible
  • Snowdrops have three inner short petals
  • and three outer longer petals
  • mostly they are plain white without a pattern
  • at most the inner leaves may have green spots

Notice:
The wild species of both plants are protected. Picking or digging up is forbidden and will be punished in case of violation.

other differences

While the March cup, coming from the floodplain forests, prefers shady and damp places, the early flowering snowdrop also gets along well with dry soil and sun. There are also different types of snowdrops that bloom at different times.

The snowdrop is one of the breeders' favourites, while the March cup has remained largely original. Its heyday is therefore still exclusively between February and April.

What else makes them different?

The small deviations in the appearance of the flowers and different location tolerances should not hide the fact that both species have a lot in common. Both are bulbous plants from the Amaryllis family.

Another commonality everyone should know about can save lives. The point is that both plants are poisonous in all parts.

Category:

Vegetable garden