Who doesn't know the snowdrop? It delights the eye with its delicate blossoms in the bleak winter time. Many gardeners plant it in the garden as an early bloomer. But what information is worth considering before planting?

The snowdrop - short and comprehensive in the profile

  • Botanical name: Galanthus nivalis
  • Plant Family: Amaryllis
  • Origin: domestic
  • Lifespan: perennial
  • Flowering period: January to April
  • Flower color: white
  • Fruits: capsule fruits
  • Location: sun to shade
  • Soil: humic, moist, slightly alkaline to neutral
  • Propagation : daughter bulbs, seeds
  • Special features: under nature protection, poisonous in all parts of the plant

A poisonous beauty that is protected

All parts of the snowdrop are poisonous and are protected. Among other things, it is the substance called galantamine that makes it toxic to the body when consumed. But small doses of this substance are used in medicine to alleviate Alzheimer's. Other names for the snowdrop include milk flower, white maiden, snow piercer and Marian candle.

Viewed from top to bottom

At the very bottom, the snowdrop forms an onion. With her it lasts for many years. Even deep sub-zero temperatures do not cause him any problems. In this country it is perennial and hardy. It is irrelevant whether it is in the sun, partial shade or shade. As an ornamental plant, it can be used in a variety of ways, for example in the rock garden, in the flower bed, in borders, on the edge of trees and on the lawn.

A leafless stalk shoots up from the bulb in winter. 2 to 3 leaves develop at the base. They are pointed and colored green. A flower forms at the end of the stem. It opens in most snowdrop species between January and March.

The flower is nodding, bell-shaped and with it the snowdrop reaches a height of between 10 and 30 cm. Three large and three small petals stand together and contain the stamens and carpels in the middle. After the flower has faded, capsule fruits form, which reach maturity in April and like to self-seed.

tips and tricks

The snowdrop is sometimes confused with the lily of the valley. But both are very different from each other. Among others, the lily of the valley has several flowers, while the snowdrop has only one flower.

Category:

Herbs