- Differences in leaves and flowers
- differences in fruit
- Differences that cannot be seen visually
- Both plants have similarities
- tips and tricks
When they are in bloom, both the snowdrop and the lily of the valley are at their best. But if you haven't dealt with them yet, you might find it difficult to tell them apart.
Differences in leaves and flowers
The snowdrop has narrower leaves. They are medium to dark green, smooth-edged and pointed. They sprout from the ground in spring between January and February. The leaves of the lily of the valley do not appear until April. They have a broad, lanceolate shape, taper towards the top and are reminiscent of wild garlic leaves.
If you compare the flowers of both plants, you will see many differences. The snowdrop has only one flower. This is drop-shaped, white on the outside and greenish on the inside. The lily of the valley has 5 to 13 flowers that are in a long-stalked raceme. The bell-shaped and pure white flowers appear between May and June, while the snowdrop flowers appear between January and March.
differences in fruit
The fruits of snowdrops and lilies of the valley are also very different. After flowering, the snowdrop develops a capsule fruit between March and April. This is inconspicuous, brownish in color and contains many seeds inside. The fruits of the lily of the valley are bright red, spherical and berry-like. They usually mature in August.
Differences that cannot be seen visually
| snowdrop | lily of the valley | |
|---|---|---|
| botanical name | Galantus nivalis | Convallaria majalis ? |
| plant family | amaryllis | asparagus plants |
| heyday | January to February | May to June |
| major toxins | alkaloids | glycosides |
| scent | faintly scented | strongly scented |
| underground | ticket | rhizome |
Both plants have similarities
Snowdrops and lilies of the valley have the following things in common:
- perennial spring bulbs
- fragrant
- toxic to humans and animals (lily of the valley more toxic)
- prefer to grow in semi-shade to shade
- come from Europe
- have white flowers
- have two to three leaves per plant
- Growth height between 15 and 30 cm
tips and tricks
In the wild, the snowdrop cannot be confused with the lily of the valley. Both appear at different times. When the lily of the valley sprout, the snowdrop has already retreated.