Originating in damp woods and meadows across Europe and the Middle East, snowdrops can now be found growing happily across the UK. They prefer damp soil and are often to be found in broadleaved woodland and along riverbanks, but can also be seen in parks, gardens, cemeteries, meadows and scrub. The species mainly flowers in January through to March but there are an increasing number of December flowerings being recorded.
The ‘flowers’ lack petals and consist of 6 white flower segments called tepals which look like petals. There are 3 outer tepals with 3 inner tepals which are smaller and have a notch in the tip where a green upturned ‘v’ pattern can be seen.
There are about 20 known species of snowdrop but as they readily cross with each other over 2,500 different varieties exist.
Snowdrops flower so early in the year when there are few pollinators around, so they spread via bulb division but that does not prevent bees and other insects visiting them on warm days.
During WW2 British citizens nicknamed American soldiers ‘snowdrops’ due to their green uniforms with a white cap or helmet.
In traditional medicine snowdrops were used to treat headaches and as a painkiller while in modern medicine a compound in the bulb has been used to develop a dementia treatment, however the bulbs are poisonous if eaten.
So, look forward to spring and enjoy your snowdrops.
