Delicate fragile snowdrops appear in spring forests and in gardens with snow melting, on thawed patches. This is a real symbol of the approach of heat, the first signal of awakening of nature. There are many varieties of unpretentious snowdrop with delicate shades of petals. Gardeners can choose the appropriate option for breeding on the site and for decorating the flowerbed, front garden.
What do snowdrops look like
Forest snowdrops are attracted by their defenselessness, aroma, tenderness, which is surprisingly combined with the ability to survive in frosts. The first sprouts of bulbs appear in March-April, as warming, bell-buds develop, as if bent to the ground on a curved peduncle.
Snowdrops in spring forest
The most common white snowdrop, which can be found in the forests and mountainous regions of Central Europe, in central Russia, the Caucasus, in the Bosphorus. The snowdrop is listed in the Red Book as an endangered plant; harvesting in the forests is prohibited due to the threat of reduction in numbers.
Peduncles - two linear dark green leaves up to 10 cm long. The bud is protected by a bract of two halves. On each arrow - one flower with six petals. The three inner petals are distinguished by green tops, conical shape, around - three large elliptical petals. This combination gives the plant a real grace.
On a note! Vegetation passes quickly - a few days or up to 2 weeks, until the snow completely disappears.
Snowdrops flowers are a medicinal plant, but these flowers should be used carefully because of the high content of alkaloids and poisons, which can cause poisoning. Only in a small dosage can a plant extract be used in various preparations.
Forest snowdrop
Snowdrop flower: species description
What color snowdrops - depends on the variety and growing conditions.
On a note! In total, in the Amaryllis family there are 18 species of snowdrops (in Latin they are called "galanthus" from the word "milk").
Here is some of them:
- Alpine snowdrop (Galanthus alpinus, Galanthus schaoricus). Grows among shrubs and in open areas in the lower and middle mountain zones in Central and Southern Europe, Ciscaucasia. This is the most popular variety in modern gardening. Blooms in early spring, characterized by bluish and dark green leaves;
- Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus caucasicus). It grows in the mountains of Central Transcaucasia, on the outskirts of Tbilisi and in the Stavropol region. Flat white leaves of a linear type with a bluish tint up to 30 cm long. Flowering lasts two weeks in early April;
- Bortkevich snowdrop (Galanthus bortkewitschianus). It blooms in the first half of spring in beech forests, on humus, in the upper Kamenka River, in the North Caucasus. Petals are lanceolate, wedge-shaped or ovoid, bluish and dark green;
- snowdrop Cilician (Galanthus cilicicus = Galanthus rizehensis). It blooms at the end of winter at the edges, among the bushes and in the foothills of Cilicia, Trabzon, Batumi, Asia Minor. Dark green leaves, white petals with a green spot;
- snowdrop Elveza (Galanthus elwesii). It is mainly distributed in Southeastern Europe, on the islands of the Aegean, in Asia Minor, Moldova, southern Ukraine. It bears the name of the collector Elvez. The species differs in height - reaches 25 cm, the size of the petals - they are large, spherical and very fragrant. Flowering lasts up to 4 weeks; in total, up to 15 plant forms are cultivated in European gardens;
Snowdrop sprouts in the garden.
- folded snowdrop (Galanthus plicatus). It is found on the edges and among shrubs of Romania and Moldova, Crimea, blooms in early spring. The flowers are large, bent down, with a strong aroma. Cultivated since 1592, there are more than 10 forms;
- broadleaf snowdrop (Galanthus platyphyllus, Galanthus latifolius). Distributed in the subalpine zone and the alpine zone, in gorges and on the slopes of the Caucasus Range. The flower stalk reaches a height of 22 cm. The most decorative in gardening;
- Icarius snowdrop (Galanthus ikariae). It grows on the Greek islands - Skyros, Andros, Ikaria, in forests and on the fringes of sandy and rocky soils. Reaches a height of 21 cm. White flowers with a green spot descend to half the leaf;
- snowdrop white (Galanthus nivalis). It is found in Central and Southern Europe, Ciscaucasia in the zone of the alpine zone on the edges and bushes. Flowering from the end of March can last up to 30 days. Cultivated since 1500. The number of varieties and forms reaches 50. Peduncles with 12 leaves are white and large, with a yellow spot.
On a note! There is a wide variety of shades and shapes of the flower. You can find out what snowdrops and their names are from encyclopedias and photo galleries on the Internet, it’s easier to choose an option for a flower bed and garden.
Popular varieties
The most popular varieties of snowdrops and flowers are most popular with gardeners:
- Arnott - distinguished by short wide perianth leaves outside;
- Lutescens is very pale, tender and sensitive to conditions;
- Charlock - on the peduncle there is a long wing, the flowers themselves are small;
- other popular varieties of terry type: Lady Elpinston, Ophelia, Pusi Green Type.
Features of caring for snowdrops in the garden
For snowdrops, an important role is played by:
- watering. The soil must be moistened so that the earthen lump at the roots does not dry out, but at the same time galanthus does not like stagnant water, in this it looks like tulips. It is better not to plant it in the lower reaches, where water accumulates, which the earth does not have time to absorb;
- spraying. It is carried out only in dry weather;
- humidity. It is necessary to maintain stable, but not excessive, water should not stagnate;
- priming. The soil should be well-drained after composting, loosened. If the composition is very clay, then it is worth adding sand and organic matter;
- top dressing. In the process of active growth, it is recommended to fertilize plants with potash and phosphate mixtures. Potassium contributes to the formation of healthy bulbs and flowers. Nitrogen mixtures should not be taken, since nitrogen multiplies the number of leaves that rot from moisture.
Features of winter care, rest period
Winter is a pronounced rest time for bulbs: in hyacinths, tulips, which are subjected to distillation in February-March. Ordinary snowdrops, the Elves variety are well amenable to distillation - they are distinguished by large flowers. Bulbs are dug in June, planted in containers with loose earth in a room with a temperature of up to 15 degrees until the beginning of October. Keep in the fall in a cool place. You can dig in the pots in the garden, but insulate with the onset of frost.
On a note! Since January, plants are kept in a room with heating up to 18 degrees - under these conditions, flowering will occur 25-30 days after the start of forcing. But galanthus cannot be overheated, they do not tolerate high temperatures, will grow weakly.
When and how it blooms
White snowdrops bloom during warming, but before stable dry weather.
About snowdrops we can say:
- types of flowers are in the form of a wedge, lancet, rounded, oval, elliptical;
- forms - terry, smooth, curly and leafy;
- flowering period - from late March to late April.
Changes in care during the flowering period consist only in the amount of fertilizer - an active growth period requires top dressing.
Bulb propagation
Snowdrop is a typical bulbous plant. Bulb planting is performed in early spring or late July and August, when 3-4 bulbs grow. When buying bulbs, you should pay attention to the condition of the roots and the size of the root crop - it should be large, and the roots should not be too dry. Ideally, the bulb should have children who help to plant flowers even in pots. Purchased material must be immediately planted or stored in a wet sandy composition.
On a note! Landing is done in the soil to a depth of 6-8 cm.
Seed planting
Snowdrop is bred through sowing seeds and propagation with bulbs.
Features seedlings seeds:
- seed treatment should be carried out immediately after collection, otherwise they will lose germination;
- soil preparation is carried out by loosening, drainage and enrichment with substrates;
- landing in open ground is done at a depth of 1-2 cm;
- the development and life of the plant is about 20-30 days after the first sprouts.
Real snowdrops in forests grow from bulbs, but seeds can also survive in moist soil and be carried by insects.
Snowdrops grown from tubers
Division of nests
You can also divide the bulbous plant into nests and plant it in enriched soil. Such a measure is effective if the bulb actively grows with daughter growths. In the market you can find young bulbs with good growth potential.
Over the summer, a group of 7-9 bulbs is formed, which can be divided and left to winter for the next season.
Possible problems in growing snowdrops
In general, snowdrops provide for themselves and regulate the level of planting. If the bulb is too deep, it grows additional bulbs and continues normal development.
What problems can be with snowdrops:
- illnesses. Like any plant, a snowdrop can become infected with a virus or fungus. Signs: dents, yellowish shade of leaves, gray fluffy coating, black dots, spots. Mostly sick in damp and in the absence of frost in the winter. For treatment, you need to treat the sprouts with fungicides;
- pests almost do not touch these flowers, because in their heyday there are almost no insects. During the summer period, worms and larvae can affect the condition of the bulbs; for prevention, it is worth draining the soil;
- chlorosis can begin when there are not enough substances in the soil, poor drainage and lack of top dressing, so it’s worth doing prevention.
On a note! Lighting should be scattered, optimally plant flowers in partial shade.
Garden snowdrops are very “smart” plants: they themselves regulate the planting depth, because if the planting is too deep, a new bulb is formed already at the optimum depth, after which the normal development of the plant continues. Giving beauty and admiration is the advantage of this modest plant, which is in a hurry to peek out from under the snow with the onset of the first thaws.
