Scientific Name
Galanthus plicatus M.Bieb.
Common Name(s)
Pleated Snowdrop, Crimean Snowdrop
Synonym(s)
Chianthemum plicatum, Galanthus clusii, Galanthus nivalis subsp. plicatus, Galanthus nivalis var. plicatus
Scientific Classification
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Subfamily: Amaryllidoideae
Tribe: Galantheae
Genus: Galanthus
Flower
Color: White
Bloom Time: Spring
Description
Galanthus plicatus is a bulbous perennial plant that grows up to 6 inches (15 cm) tall. Its leaves are bluish or grayish-green and up to 0.8 inches (2 cm) wide. The leaf edges are folded back away from the leaf's upper surface, both in the bud and after they expand. The nodding white flowers appear in spring and have six white tepals. The outer three are all white and up to 1.2 inches (3 cm) long, and the inner three are shorter and notched with a green mark above the notch, often extending beyond the middle of the tepal.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 5a to 8b: from −20 °F (−28.9 °C) to 20 °F (−6.7 °C).
How to Grow and Care
Snowdrops need some sunlight to bloom, but too much sun will 'melt' them – cause them to wither away. Before it has leafed out in the early spring, the dappled shade of a deciduous tree is perfect.
Purchased Snowdrops are planted in the fall, but if a friend lifts some for you in the spring, they should take fine, too, before the leaves have started to decline. Either way, plant them immediately. After flowering in the spring, let the foliage die back naturally. Snowdrops don't linger long, like daffodils or tulips. They'll disappear before you know it. Mark the area so you don't accidentally dig the bulbs when planting something else later in the season. In dry seasons, water periodically throughout the summer. For the most part, Snowdrops will take care of themselves. Large, established clumps may eventually have less blooms. At that point, you should consider digging them and dividing the clumps. Do this after flowering. The bulbs are small but plump and will break apart easily. Replant immediately.
It is possible to grow your Snowdrops in containers. You can squeeze them in quite close, but they'll still need to be at least 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.5 cm) deep. In USDA Zones 5 – 6, your containers may need some winter protection.
See more at How to Grow and Care for Snowdrops.
Origin
This species is native from Romania, Ukraine, and Crimea in eastern Europe to north Turkey and the northwest Caucasus in Asia.
Links
- Back to genus Galanthus
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
Photo Gallery
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