Snowdrops are one of the first signs of spring in the UK. These delicate flowers appear as if by magic across the woodlands in a delicate green and white carpet at the end of winter. Despite their fragile appearance, they are highly resilient plants, adapted to withstand freezing temperatures and cold weather. In this post, we’ll explore when and where to find snowdrops and learn how they have evolved to be able to flower so early in the year.
Snowdrops usually bloom from late January to March in the UK. However, the best time to see them is in mid-February, as this is when most of the flowers have come out but haven’t started to wilt yet.
Warmer winters tend to result in earlier blooms, with snowdrops appearing as early as December. Harsher weather conditions may delay full flowering until March or April. Some varieties are known to bloom even earlier, like the Galanthus reginae-olgae (autumn snowdrop), which can flower as early as September.
Once blooming, the flowers on a snowdrop plant last for a month or two. However, the green foliage will remain until late April or May, allowing the plant to photosynthesise and absorb nutrients to develop bulbs underground for the next blooming season.
Why do snowdrops bloom so early?
Snowdrops bloom early in order to take advantage of the sparse canopy of leaves in woodlands, allowing them to receive plenty of light and nutrients before competing plants emerge from their winter dormancy.
How do snowdrops survive the cold?
Anti-freeze proteins
Snowdrops are able to withstand the cold due to the presence of anti-freeze proteins (AFPs) in their sap, which safeguard their cells from freezing temperatures. These proteins bind to ice, preventing it from developing into crystal structure that would otherwise damage the plant.
Sharp leaves
Snowdrops have specially-adapted leaves that can break through frozen soil or snow thanks to their hardened, pointed ends.
Thermotropic flowers
The flowers of snowdrops also have unique features that allow them to withstand the cold; they are thermotropic, which means they respond to heat.
In temperatures of 10Β°C and above, the outer petals spread out, making it easier for pollinators to access them. In lower temperatures, the petals close to protect the flowers from damage caused by the cold.
This unique adaptation enables snowdrops to benefit from cross-pollination on milder days when insects are active and looking for food sources, which are scarce at this time of year, without putting the flowers at risk of frost damage.
Asexual reproduction
Snowdrops can reproduce asexually by dividing their bulbs, which is why you’ll often see many plants in one patch, making them less dependant on pollinators that are dormant at this time of year.
Where to look for snowdrops
A good starting point to look for snowdrops is in broad-leaved, deciduous woodlands. Check around the roots of trees like oak, birch, and beech. Snowdrops prefer soil that contains humus from dead leaves and branches and thrive in dappled sunlight. They are most likely to be found on the outskirts of woods or in clearings where there is more sunlight.
Another location to look for snowdrops is your local church grounds. Snowdrops are known to grow in graveyards. It is believed that they were first introduced to the UK before the 16th century by Norman monks and later became popular among Victorians for planting on graves as they were considered very tasteful for burial sites.
You can also find snowdrops in gardens, parks, and on grassy patches on kerbsides or riverside paths. These flowers are a popular choice among gardeners because, once established, they are reasonably low maintenance.
This post was all about when snowdrops bloom and where to look for snowdrops!
