SNOWDROPS: THE FIRST HARBINGERS OF SPRING

While winter is still in full swing, snowdrops (Galanthus) offer an early glimpse of spring. These hardy bulbs brave the cold and snow, blooming as early as January and February. With their delicate, white, bell-shaped flowers, they bring a touch of hope and freshness to the garden. This 'Flower bulb of the Year 2025' certainly deserves a podium.

A White World Full of Variety

Although we often associate snowdrops with their characteristic small white flowers, there are hundreds of varieties. They differ in size, petal shape, and even subtle color markings. A fascinating fact: snowdrop petals are actually colorless! Tiny air bubbles between the leaf cells reflect light, making them appear white. If you crush a petal, you’ll notice the residue is completely clear.

Planting Snowdrops

Want to grow snowdrops in your garden? Plant the bulbs immediately after purchase, from September to November. Remember: the sooner, the better! Snowdrops thrive in moist but well-draining, humus-rich soil. During their blooming period, they prefer sun, but in summer, they do best in partial shade—just like in their natural woodland habitat.

Great places to plant snowdrops include:
• Under deciduous trees or shrubs
• At the front of a border, combined with ground covers
• In grassy areas and rock gardens
• At the base of a deciduous hedge

Tip: Mice and squirrels love snowdrop bulbs. Protect them by placing chicken wire over the soil until the plants start to grow.

Caring for Snowdrops

Snowdrops require minimal maintenance. After planting, provide ample water and allow the foliage to die back naturally. This process helps the nutrients return to the bulb, ensuring healthy blooms the following year.

Pruning is unnecessary, but removing spent flowers can help direct energy back to the bulb. Every four years, it's beneficial to divide snowdrop clumps by lifting and separating them.

Propagating Snowdrops

Want to expand your snowdrop collection? Simply dig up clumps after they finish blooming, carefully divide them, and replant them immediately. Keep the roots intact and water well. The foliage may look slightly wilted after replanting, but the plants will recover fully by the next winter.

Choosing the Best Bulbs

In fall, select firm, large bulbs free of mold or damage. Larger bulbs produce stronger stems and bigger flowers. From December onward, you can also buy potted snowdrops to bring an early touch of spring indoors. Once they finish blooming, plant them in the garden for next year’s display.

Perfect Combinations

Snowdrops pair beautifully with other early bloomers, such as:
• Cyclamen coum
• Anemone blanda
• Crocus
• Scilla
• Helleborus
• Epimedium

They also thrive under hazelnut trees or witch hazels and look stunning in lawns alongside other naturalizing bulbs.

Popular Snowdrop Varieties

With over 700 cultivars available, there’s plenty to choose from. Here are some top recommendations we offer through our sales partners:

• Galanthus nivalis: The classic choice, perfect for mass planting.
• Galanthus elwesii: A larger variety, known as the "Giant Snowdrop."
• Galanthus nivalis ‘Flore Pleno’: A double-flowered variety, ideal for pots and small borders.
• Galanthus woronowii: Compact, with glossy green leaves and a distinctive green marking on the petals.
• Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’: Reliable and beautifully fragrant with a honey-like scent.

Bring Spring into Your Garden

Whether you're an experienced gardener or simply looking to add a touch of freshness to your outdoor space, snowdrops are a wonderful choice. They welcome spring in their own subtle yet enchanting way. Plant them, enjoy their beauty, and be amazed by their resilience!

CREATE A GARDEN IN THE SPIRIT OF KEUKENHOF

1 m2 = 6.5 Weeks of Flowers

Not able to visit Keukenhof next year, or is a single visit not enough for you? Create your own square meter of Keukenhof at home and enjoy beautifully blooming bulb flowers for 6.5 weeks. Order the 6.5 weeks of flowers collection in our webshop or follow the instructions below:

Lasagne Planting

The longest possible flowering season in the smallest possible space? No problem! To achieve this Keukenhof uses lasagna (or layered) planting. The various types of bulbs are planted in several layers. In the bottom layer are the late-flowering varieties, in the middle layer the April-flowering bulbs, and finally, in the top layer, are the early-flowering bulbs. Planting your bulbs in three layers, will keep your 1 m2 Keukenhof in bloom for 6,5 weeks.

Planting Bulbs

Plant your bulbs from the end of September. If you are using the lasagne method, the first bulbs you should plant are: Tulipa ‘Claudia’ and ‘Queen of Night’ (planting depth 20 cm). Cover these with a layer of soil and plant the next layer: Hyacinthus ‘Blue Pearl’ and Tulipa ‘Heart’s Delight’ (planting depth 10 cm). Cover this layer, and for the last layer plant Crocus ‘Jeanne d’Arc’, Narcissus ‘Jetfire’ and Chionodioxa forbesii (planting depth 5 cm). Cover this layer with soil also. As a guide, the distance between the bulbs should be equal to at least the width of the bulb. Cover your personal Keukenhof with a thin layer of garden soil. All of these bulbs are also seperately available.

No Garden? No Problem!

Even if you don't have a garden, you can still enjoy spring flowering bulbs. Flowering bulbs are also very suitable for planting in pots and containers. If the pot is at least 20 cm deep, you can even use the lasagne planting method. The biggest danger to bulbs in pots and containers is frost. Because the pots or containers are above the ground, it is easy for frost to penetrate. Flowering bulbs are sensitive to frost damage, so if frost is forecast, you should place the pots or containers in a cool, frost-free place. When the frost is over you can put the pots or containers back outside.

Do You Want To Create Your Own Keukenhof?

Take a look at our 6.5 weeks of flowers collection in our webshop to order a complete package with suitable flower bulbs for a miniature Keukenhof.