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!

THE MAGIC OF FLOWER BULBS IN YOUR GARDEN OR ON YOUR BALCONY

Imagine this: after a long, grey winter, your garden bursts into color. The first crocuses open in the soft spring sun, followed by bright yellow daffodils, fragrant hyacinths, and graceful tulips in every color you can think of. Flower bulbs are the silent promise of spring. And the best part? They're surprisingly easy to plant and care for – whether you have a large garden or just a few pots on your balcony.

Spring bulbs often bloom as early as late February, starting with snowdrops and crocuses. Then come the daffodils and hyacinths, with tulips taking the stage in April and sometimes lasting into early May. With smart planning, you can enjoy color for months.

More than just tulips

There’s so much more than tulips. Think of charming grape hyacinths (Muscari), impressive ornamental onions (Allium), delicate anemones, or the unique crown imperial (Fritillaria) with their elegant hanging blooms. Botanical varieties are also trending – they stay small but are hardy and return year after year.

A colorful spring starts in fall

Planting begins in the fall – from September until December, before the ground freezes. Good drainage is key, as flower bulbs dislike wet feet. Got heavy clay soil? Mix in some sand or compost. Most flower bulbs prefer a sunny spot, though crocuses and daffodils also do well in partial shade.

Flower bulbs also thrive in pots. Choose a deep pot with drainage holes and start with a layer of gravel or pot shards. Try the ‘lasagna method’ by layering flower bulbs: tulips at the bottom, hyacinths in the middle, crocuses on top. For more tips, read our blog ‘KEUKENHOF create your own’.

Watch out for curious animals – mice, squirrels, and deer love some flower bulbs. Daffodils are usually left alone, making them a safe choice for wildlife-friendly gardens.

Low effort, high reward

Caring for flower bulbs is easy. Water lightly when planting, then only during dry spells in spring. After blooming, let the leaves die back naturally – this helps the flower bulbs store energy for next year. Feel free to remove spent flowers so the plant doesn’t waste energy on seeds.

Want to enjoy the blooms indoors? Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths make great cut flowers. Harvest them in the early morning and place them in fresh, cold water.

Most flower bulbs are perennial, especially in the right spot. Botanical tulips, alliums, and daffodils often return each year. Larger types can be dug up after blooming, dried, and replanted in the fall.

How to pick the best flower bulbs

Healthy flower bulbs feel firm, dry, and show no mold or damage. Bigger flower bulbs usually produce bigger flowers. At Royal Park, we carefully select our flower bulbs to guarantee top quality. Our collection is available to order from March to July.

Smart combinations for months of blooms

To enjoy a garden full of color, mix different varieties. Crocuses pair beautifully with grape hyacinths, tulips with anemones or alliums. Plant flower bulbs among perennials like salvia or hostas so your garden stays interesting and colorful after the flower bulbs fade. Even under ornamental trees like cherry or magnolia, flower bulbs create a stunning spring display.

Choose from over 150 cultivars

Our webshop offers over 150 cultivars. From timeless classics to rare finds. Think of the deep-purple tulip ‘Queen of Night’, the sweet-smelling white daffodil ‘Thalia’, or the striking Allium ‘Globemaster’. Each has its own charm and bloom time.

Let spring begin

What are you waiting for? Planting flower bulbs takes little effort but gives big rewards – months of blooms, year after year. Visit our webshop and start planning your dream garden today.

Need personal advice?

Have questions about choosing, combining, or planting flower bulbs? Want tailored advice for your garden, balcony, or local climate? Fill out our contact form. Our team is happy to help you make the most of a colorful, blooming spring.

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.