Snowdrop
Strongly prefer buying or moving clumps "in the green" just after flowering rather than as dry autumn bulbs, which have a notably poor establishment rate for this genus.
Care
Woodland conditions, with dappled light under deciduous trees or shrubs, suit it well.
Prefers soil that doesn't dry out completely in summer.
Fertile, humus-rich, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil; dislikes very dry, sandy ground.
Not applicable — leave foliage to die back naturally after flowering.
Feeding is rarely needed — a mulch of leaf mould after flowering suits a woodland bulb better than fertiliser, and a clump left undisturbed in decent soil increases on its own for decades.
Lift and split clumps 'in the green', straight after flowering while the leaves are still up, and replant immediately at the same depth. Dry bulbs bought in autumn establish far less reliably.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- JanuaryMain flowering season.
- MarchDivide or move clumps "in the green" — just after flowering, while the leaves are still green — for far better establishment than dry bulbs. how ›
- SeptemberDry bulbs can be planted now, but establish considerably less reliably than moving clumps in the green.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryMain flowering season.
- MarchDivide or move clumps "in the green" — just after flowering, while the leaves are still green — for far better establishment than dry bulbs. how ›
- SeptemberDry bulbs can be planted now, but establish considerably less reliably than moving clumps in the green.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryMain flowering season.
- FebruaryDivide or move clumps "in the green" — just after flowering, while the leaves are still green — for far better establishment than dry bulbs. how ›
- SeptemberDry bulbs can be planted now, but establish considerably less reliably than moving clumps in the green.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- JanuaryMain flowering season.
- FebruaryDivide or move clumps "in the green" — just after flowering, while the leaves are still green — for far better establishment than dry bulbs. how ›
- OctoberDry bulbs can be planted now, but establish considerably less reliably than moving clumps in the green.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. No growth appears the following spring after autumn planting.
What to do. Many dry snowdrop bulbs sold in autumn simply fail to grow — buying or dividing "in the green" is far more reliable for this genus specifically.
How to spot it. Occasionally affects stored bulbs.
What to do. Discard visibly affected bulbs; avoid replanting in the same spot.
Questions
Snowdrop: is it hardy?
H5: Hardy in most of the UK, but can struggle in the coldest inland or upland spots. It survives down to −15 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Fine for a season, though it really shines naturalised in the ground under trees and shrubs.
Snowdrop: when do you prune it?
Not applicable — leave foliage to die back naturally after flowering.
Snowdrop: when does it flower?
In the climate of UK it flowers in January–February.
When do you feed it?
Feeding is rarely needed — a mulch of leaf mould after flowering suits a woodland bulb better than fertiliser, and a clump left undisturbed in decent soil increases on its own for decades.