How to plant snowdrops

Snowdrops with their sparkling bell-like, white flowers emerge pluckily even in the depths of the most challenging winter. They’re available in many varieties, and by planting several different ones, you can extend the flowering period from late winter into early spring. Snowdrops can take a year to re-establish, so be patient. When they establish themselves, they’ll reward your efforts year after year.

The best time for buying and planting snowdrop bulbs is from August to mid-October. Always unpack bulbs and plant on arrival, allowing approximately 75-100 to a square meter. They should be planted 10-15 cm deep and 7-10 cm apart.

Snowdrops lend themselves particularly well to shady woodland plantings with moist, well-drained, humus-rich soil that does not dry out. They look especially pretty mixed with other spring flowering bulbs like winter aconites, dwarf iris, and cyclamen.

A generally unknown fact about snowdrops is that they are highly fragrant and make excellent cut flowers.

Snowdrops do best when left undisturbed. However, as they naturalise and multiply, they can form congested clumps that will fail to flower. In this case, dig out part of the clump, separate the bulbs and replant in a new spot.   

Take care and use gloves when planting snowdrops, as all parts could be potentially poisonous if eaten. They are also toxic to dogs and cats.

Potential problems:

Snowdrops need a proper cold snap to perform at their best. If the winter is not cold enough, they will flower just above the soil, but this won’t harm them; they will flower again as normal the following year.