Winter wonders
Snowdrops are the signature British flower at this time of the year, lighting up January’s darker days
Snowdrops thrive in light shade
WHEN it feels like the world has come to a standstill, nature is what reassures. The sun rises in the morning and sets in the evening as before. And our plants act as we expect... growing, flowering and resting through the seasons.
In midwinter, after Christmas and New Year, there’s a solemn lull. Until that is we’re heartened by the few minutes of longer daylight and evidence of activity in the soil.
The hint of optimism turns to a smile with a glimpse of the first snowdrops as they defiantly emerge through often frosted ground. How is it possible that such delicate looking plants can grow through the freeze and not be dulled by ice?
They thrive due to a natural antifreeze in the form of proteins which bind to and inhibit the growth of ice crystals which would otherwise destroy cell structure. The combination of strength and delicacy makes for a powerful symbol of hope and reassures us that spring is not far behind.
Snowdrops belong on our island. They’ve made a comfortable home here. When you see a white carpet of these flowers under a tree or spreading across a lawn, it’s easy to believe they are native but in fact snowdrops were introduced from areas of Europe, as well as parts of Asia and Russia as early as the 16th century.
Since this time, the snowdrop has established itself throughout our woodlands, gardens, parks, grasslands and churchyards.
Having survived for centuries in such numbers makes it a truly naturalised species on our lands. So how best to grow them in our gardens? The first thing to remember is to buy them ‘in the green’. This means when they have been dug up in full growth in February or March after flowering – you’ll get them wrapped in plastic to preserve the moisture.
You will see them for sale as dried bulbs but they don’t have as good a success rate – the bulbs are so tiny that they tend to shrivel up.
Next question, where is the best place for them?
Snowdrops thrive in light shade under deciduous trees or shrubs, making beautiful companions for cyclamen, aconites and hellebores, although they will happily grow in containers if re-potted annually.
The ideal soil conditions replicate their natural woodland habitat: humus-rich and slightly moistureretentive. However, they are adaptable and can tolerate heat in the summer. When preparing your site for planting, add plenty of organic matter.
Once established, your snowdrop
colony should multiply of its own accord. It’s best to divide clumps every three years, particularly when growing cultivars, to avoid overcrowding.
Clumps of snowdrops repeated around the garden in winter also make a lovely feature. They hybridise very easily and this is often how unusual new varieties arise and cause great excitement amongst snowdrop enthusiasts, aka Galanthophiles, who are prepared to pay big money for rare cultivars.
For my money, the best is ‘Mrs Mcnamara’, a vigorous, early flowering variety which will bulk up quickly. It’s relatively tall with big flowers and a distinctive green chevron mark. For mid-season go for the well known ‘S. Arnott’ which is taller and the flowers have a gentle honey scent.
To transplant snowdrops to other parts of your garden, lift plants that are ‘in the green’ after flowering, when the soil is moist. Carefully tease the clumps of bulbs apart by hand, trying to avoid damage to the roots. It’s best to replant the bulbs singly, spacing each one at least two bulb widths apart. However, where large clumps include small seedlings, replant the bulbs in small clusters, spreading the roots out well, and then water in.
In the 1950s, a Bulgarian pharmacologist saw peasants rubbing their foreheads with snowdrops to ease pain. This led to research into the benefits of galantamine in snowdrop leaves and bulbs. Recently it has been used in the treatment of mild Alzheimer’s disease – another reason to appreciate these winter wonders.