The snowdrop is one of the first plants to show off to the world in full bloom in spring. Each snowdrop has only one flower. When this has withered, the fruits are formed with their numerous tiny seeds…

When are the seeds ripe?

The seeds of most snowdrop species are mature in April. But maturity can vary from location to location. While snowdrops in sheltered and mild locations bloom in January, snowdrops in cooler locations bloom in March. Thus, seed ripening can occur earlier or later.

The seed formation weakens the snowdrop

While seed maturity varies, one thing is certain: it takes a tremendous amount of energy for a snowdrop to form its seeds and, as a result, weakens it. If you want to prevent this, you should not shy away from the effort of cutting off the withered inflorescences.

Ants like to eat the seeds

After the flowering period, the fruit capsules hang down on the stems. Ants can easily get to the fruit. Each ant can carry around a seed contained in it. But why do ants like to do this?

They are after the nutritive body that is attached to each seed. The ants carry the seeds to their burrow. Out of hunger, they sometimes eat up the nutritive body on the way and leave the seed on the ground. As a result, the ants take over the multiplication of the snowdrop quite incidentally…

Characteristics of the seeds

Snowdrop seeds are contained in inconspicuous capsules hanging down from the plant. Each snowdrop has only one capsule fruit. It contains between 18 and 36 seeds. The seeds are:

  • light brown
  • plump
  • smooth
  • average 3.5 mm in size

Procedure for sowing

If you want to use the seeds to propagate the snowdrop, you should know that the results are not varietal. Nevertheless, sowing is worthwhile for hobby breeders.

Method:

  • Place the seeds (cold and dark germs) in an open box
  • keep soil moistured
  • Germination time: 4 to 6 weeks
  • dwarf in summer
  • plant outdoors in autumn
  • do not plant near conifers

tips and tricks

In order to be able to germinate reliably, the seeds should be sown fresh and exposed to temperatures between -4 and 4 °C.

Category:

Herbs