Family: Amaryllidaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 288 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Galanthus
Vegetable: False
Observations: Pyrenees to Ukraine
Description
The Common Snowdrop, known scientifically as Galanthus nivalis, is a delicate and charming perennial plant that belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family. Described by the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus in his landmark work “Species Plantarum” in 1753, this plant has captivated the hearts of botanists and horticulturists alike for centuries.
Native to a vast region stretching from the Pyrenees across Europe to Ukraine, the Common Snowdrop heralds the end of winter with its pristine, white blossoms. Its natural habitats include woodlands, meadows, and riverbanks, where it forms dense colonies that create a strikingly beautiful floral carpet.
Botanically, the Common Snowdrop is recognized by its nodding, bell-shaped flowers that resemble drops of snow, hence its name. Each flower is composed of six petal-like tepals: three outer tepals that are larger and more convex, and three inner tepals that are smaller and form a delicate tube with green markings near the tip.
The plant grows from a bulb, which is adapted to survive the cold climates of its native range. It often emerges through the last snow of winter, signaling the arrival of spring. The slender, grass-like leaves of the Common Snowdrop emerge concurrently with the flowers, adding to the plant’s subtle yet striking appearance.
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, Galanthus nivalis holds cultural significance in various European traditions and is often associated with purity and hope. Despite its delicate appearance, the plant is hardy and can thrive in a variety of soil conditions, provided they are well-drained.
The Common Snowdrop’s early blooming period is ecologically vital, as it provides one of the first nectar sources for pollinators such as bees, which emerge from hibernation in late winter and early spring. As such, it plays an important role in the local ecosystem.
Due to its beauty and early blooming habit, Galanthus nivalis is widely cultivated in gardens across the world. Gardeners appreciate its low maintenance requirements and its ability to naturalize over time, creating splendid displays with minimal effort.
In summary, the Common Snowdrop is not only a botanical gem but also an enduring symbol of the changing seasons and the resilience of nature. Its simplicity and grace continue to inspire those who encounter it in both wild habitats and cultivated spaces.
Common Names
Dan: almindelig vintergæk, fliget brøndsel, tusindfryd, vintergæk
Lit: baltoji snieguolė
Swe: brunskära, sibirisk aster, tusensköna, videaster, puistolumikello, snödroppe, vanlig snödroppe
Eng: common snowdrop, snowdrop, bucaneve, flower of hope, milky snowdrop
Nor: flikbrønsle, tusenfryd
Nld: gewoon sneeuwklokje, sneeuwklokje
Fin: kaunokainen, tummarusokki, puistolumikello
Deu: kleines schneeglöckchen, schneegloeckchen, schneeglöckchen
Est: harilik lumikelluke
Fra: perce-neige, perceneige, galantine d’hiver, niveole
Nno: snøklokke
Nob: snøklokke
Cym: blodau’r eira, blodyn yr eira, cloch maban, cloch y baban, cloch yr eiriol, eirdlws, eiriawl, eiriol, eirlys, eirlysiau, lili wen fach, mws yr eira, tlws yr eira
Spa: flor de nieve
Ita: foraneve
Hun: hovirag
Rus: lukowiza podsneshnika
En: Common snowdrop, Snowdrop, Bulbous Violet, Fair Maids of Feburary, Bucaneve, Flower of Hope, Milky snowdrop, Snow-flower
Ar: زهرة اللبن الشتوية
Hy: Սպիտակ ձնծաղիկ
Az: Ağ qargülü, Qar xədicəgülü
Eu: Negu txilintxa
Be: Падснежнік
Bg: Обикновено кокиче
Ca: Lliri de neu, Viola d’hivern
Zh: 雪钟花
Kw: Bleujyow ergh
Hr: Obična visibaba
Cs: Sněženka podsněžník
Da: Almindelig Vintergæk, Vintergæk, Vinterlilje, Fliget Brøndsel, Tusindfryd
Nl: Gewoon sneeuwklokje, Sneeuwklokje
Et: Harilik lumikelluke
Fi: Puistolumikello, Lumikello, Kaunokainen, Tummarusokki
Fr: Perceneige, Galantine d’Hiver, Goutte de lait, Niveole, Perce-neige, Galanthe des neiges, Clochette d’hiver, Galanthine
De: Kleines Schneeglöckchen, Gewöhnliches Schneeglöckchen, Schneeglöckchen, Schneegloeckchen, Echtes Schneeglöckchen, Märzblümchen
Hu: Hóvirág, Kikeleti hóvirág, Hovirag
It: Bucaneve, Foraneve
Lv: Baltā sniegpulkstenīte
Li: Sjnieklökske, Sjnieëklökske, Sjnièklökske, Sjnièklökskes
Lt: Baltoji snieguolė
Lb: Schnéiglëckchen, Schnéikläckelchen, Schnéikläckelcher
No: Snøklokke, Snøklokker, Flikbrønsle, Tusenfryd
Nb: Snøklokke
Nn: Snøklokke
Fa: زنگوله زمستانی
Pl: Gładysz pospolity, Gładyszek, Przebiśnieg pospolity, Przebiśnieg zwyczajny, Przebiśnieg, Śnieżyczka przebiśnieg
Rm: Galantina da naiv
Ru: Подснежник белоснежный, Lukowiza Podsneshnika
Sr: Висибаба
Sk: Snežienka jarná
Es: Flor de Nieve, Navadni mali zvonček, Zvonček, Campanilla blanca de invierno, Campanilla de invierno, Campanilla de las nieves, Perforanieves
Sv: Snödroppe, Brunskära, Sibirisk aster, Tusensköna, Videaster, Puistolumikello, Vanlig snödroppe
Zh-tw: 雪花蓮
Tr: Adi kardelen
Uk: Підсніжник білосніжний, Підсніжник звичайний
Wa: Pucele
Cy: Eirlys, Blodau’r Eira, Blodyn yr Eira, Cloch Maban, Cloch y Baban, Cloch yr Eiriol, Eirdlws, Eiriawl, Eiriol, Eirlysiau, Lili Wen Fach, Mws yr Eira, Tlws yr Eira
Fy: Foarjiersberntsje, Liderke, Neaken Boutsje, Neaken Earske, Neaken Mantsje, Neaken Wyfke, Snieklokje, Wyt Wyfke
Synonyms
- Galanthus nivalis var. minus (Ten.)
- Galanthus nivalis var. scharlockii (Casp.)
- Galanthus nivalis var. majus (Ten.)
- Galanthus nivalis var. atkinsii (Mallett)
- Galanthus nivalis var. hololeuca (Čelak.)
- Galanthus nivalis f. pictus (K.Malý)
- Galanthus montanus (Schur)
- Galanthus nivalis var. stenopetalus (Beck)
- Galanthus nivalis var. multiplex (Weston)
- Galanthus nivalis subsp. imperati ((Bertol.) K.Richt.)
- Galanthus melvillei (Voss)
- Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus (P.D.Sell)
- Galanthus nivalis var. plenus (Weston)
- Galanthus warei (J.Allen)
- Galanthus nivalis var. platypetalus (Beck)
- Chianthemum nivale ((L.) Kuntze)
- Galanthus nivalis var. spitzneri (Podp.)
- Galanthus imperati (Bertol.)
- Galanthus alexandri (Porcius)
- Galanthus nivalis var. viridiapice (Barr ex Bowles)
- Galanthus scharlokii ((Casp.) Baker)
- Galanthus nivalis var. carpaticus (S.S.Fodor)
- Galanthus nivalis var. montanus ((Schur) Rouy)
- Galanthus nivalis var. hortensis (Herb.)
- Galanthus umbricus (Dammann)
Distribution
- Albania (native)
- Austria (native)
- Belarus (native)
- Bulgaria (native)
- Czechoslovakia (native)
- France (native)
- Germany (native)
- Greece (native)
- Hungary (native)
- Italy (native)
- Poland (native)
- Romania (native)
- Sicilia (native)
- Spain (native)
- Switzerland (native)
- Turkey-in-Europe (native)
- Ukraine (native)
- Yugoslavia (native)
- Belgium (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Netherlands (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- Newfoundland (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Norway (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Utah (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
Additional Images
Flower
Taken Feb 24, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 18, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 25, 2017 by ZŠ Kbely (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Kerstin Kerstin (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 24, 2019 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Feb 1, 2018 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 11, 2022 by Tristan Jaton-Maria (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 18, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Nov 19, 2019 by Kerstin Kerstin (cc-by-sa)
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Leaf
Taken Feb 14, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 18, 2019 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 5, 2019 by lusen (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 14, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 14, 2019 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Mar 15, 2022 by Michael Goldthwaite (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 8, 2022 by Martin Bishop (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 9, 2014 by Tela Botanica − r jot (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 5, 2022 by Annemarie Ahrens-Stehle (cc-by-sa)
Taken Feb 27, 2020 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Mar 29, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 24, 2012 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 29, 2013 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 20, 2022 by huy HO (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 28, 2021 by Catherine Pope (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Feb 5, 2022 by Inge Meyer (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2855356)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:64496-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Galanthus nivalis L.)
Specifications
Growth habit: Forb/herb
Growth
Ph maximum: 7.5
Ph minimum: 7.0
Light: 4
Atmospheric humidity: 8
Bloom months: [‘feb’, ‘mar’]
Soil nutriments: 6