Milk flower, Snowdrop, Galanthus

Milk flower is a good description of a snowdrop when you consider it’s predominantly white. This is a mildly indulgent blog with plenty of photos of beautiful snowdrops and assorted facts about snowdrops to inform and possibly amuse you.

9 Facts about Snowdrops

Known botanically as the genus Galanthus, snowdrops are a member of the Amaryllis family.

The snowdrop flower is native to parts of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region, but is not native to the United Kingdom.

Milk flower is one of the common names for Snowdrop, and is taken from the Greek ‘gala’, meaning “milk”, and ‘anthos’, meaning “flower”.

In the 19 century, a Dr Prior wrote that the common name cannot mean snowdrop since ‘snow is a dry powdery substance that cannot form a drop.’ (Was he also a train spotter in his spare time?)

But the name ‘pearl drop flower’ is also found and relates to earrings. Specifically, pearl drop earrings, which were a favourite item of jewellery for men and women in the 16th and 17th centuries.

There are four snowdrop species which have become widespread and are readily available to gardeners. These are: –

Common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis
Crimean snowdrop, Galanthus plicatus
Giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii
Slender snowdrop, Galanthus gracilis

Common snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis

This milk flower is the one we all easily recognise as ‘the’ snowdrop. Probably introduced into Britain even earlier, the first definite illustration is in Dodoen’s 1568 herbal. Gerard’s 1633 herbal gives us the name ‘snowe droppe’ which seems to have been in common parlance for at least 20 years by then. Maids of February, another of its common names, gives us a clue as to when this particular snowdrop is most likely to flower in Britain.

Crimean snowdrop, Galanthus plicatus

Plicatus snowdrops are native to the Crimea as you’d expect form the name. A hardier plant than nivalis, they were recognised as a separate species in 1583 by the herbalist Clusius. The name plicatus was given in 1819 and describes their plicate or folded leaves.

Giant snowdrop, Galanthus elwesii

A tall plant with broad glaucous, blue-green, leaves. This milk flower was named in 1875 for the plant hunter Henry Elwes who introduced it to Britain. His Gloucestershire garden has an outstanding collection of snowdrops and Colesbourne is open to the public for them to enjoy. (Do check their website before making a special journey).

Slender snowdrop, Galanthus gracilis

A graceful Galanthus indeed! Not often seen in ‘ordinary’ gardens which is a pity as its slender leaves are often twisted, making an interesting contrast with other snowdrops.

More Milk flower Facts

Some Galanthus species contain galantamine, a compound used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. It can be helpful in slowing down memory loss and retaining cognitive processes but is not, unfortunately, a cure.

Did you know snowdrops are scented? Their delicate honey fragrance is a delight. Galanthus ‘Sir Herbert Maxwell’ and Galanthus ‘S Arnott’ are two with good scents (in my humble opinion). But any massed planting of milk flowers with offer a fragrant episode as you wander near them. Indeed fragrance is very common amongst winter flowering plants as they need to attract the few pollinators that are around.

Snowdrops are often sold as ‘bulbs in the green’ which can be a more reliable way of purchasing them than as ‘ordinary’ bulbs for many gardeners.

What are Bulbs in the Green?

Flowering bulbs which bloom in late winter and early-mid spring may be purchased as bulbs in the green during December – March. They will have leaves growing but may or may not have flower buds or flowers. Although growing, they’re not usually a fully formed ‘plant for sale’. They may be sold in ‘loose’ ie full growth with a little soil attached to the bulbs or in a pot.

Purchasing snowdrops in the green rather than as dormant bulbs, is a useful way to instantly add flowers into your winter garden.

These are some for sale at Chelsea Physic Garden. Those locked in the wooden glass cabinet are unusual Galanthus. The bulbs can take years to bulk up enough to split and sell, which is why buying a rare milk flower might send me over budget!

Snowdrops on Display

Where to Grow Snowdrops in Your Garden

The milk flower does well in a variety of soils that are not waterlogged (like most bulbs).

Where the soil is likely to be waterlogged over the winter, you may be better growing them in containers or raised beds.

As for where to plant them, even though they have reputation as shade plants, snowdrops are pretty tolerant and will grow and flower in full sun, part shade or woodland edge-type shade.

I also have a few in pots on the patio table. The scent is at nose level when I’m out there and I can see the flowers from the house too.

Some of my favourite Snowdrop Milk Flowers

Ones that I have as distinct from ones that I covet!

Galanthus ‘Pale face’

a yellow marked snowdrop with pale green leaves. I’m rather fond of the contrast the paler, yellow types give when planted near dark purple Hellebores.

Galanthus plicatus ‘Diggory’

I do love the seersucker effect on the petals and this particular variety had a name with childhood and literary associations for me, at least. Diggory is one of the main characters in “The Magician’s Nephew” by C. S. Lewis in which book we see the birth of the land of Narnia. (and one of those rare snowdrops when I bought it – sshh)

Galanthus ‘Blewbury tart’

An unusual double snowdrop with lots of green markings and upward facing flowers. Found in the Oxfordshire village of the same name.

Galanthus ‘’Heffalump’

another literary milk flower which had been on my list for a while before I treated myself. (Winnie the Pooh and Piglet go on a heffalump hunt in the book “Winnie the Pooh” by A. A. Milne)

And finally

Some of the photos are taken at the Chelsea Physic Garden in London. For another milk flower indulgence check out the garden visit blog below. Of course, it’s not the only garden I visit for Snowdrop Days. There are plenty more all over the United Kingdom where you can be delighted by Galanthus.

Do you like seeing other people’s gardens? The NGS scheme ahs volunteers who open just for Snowdrop Days and check out gardens open for local charities too. I’m off to see a couple locally as it helps with deciding which snowdrops should do well in my new garden. And on that note, you can have a peek at my garden in the (new) Instagram account @spitfiresandslowworms

For further gardening advice and inspiration, ideas for winter gardens and more, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet . You could come and find us on Instagram – @plewsgd Pinterest and Facebook too.