Fair Maids of February

Yes, lovely snowdrops. They are more commonly called, most appropriately, the ‘Fair Maids of February’ or the ‘Flower of Hope’. With their grey green sword like leaves and drooping bell shaped snow white flowers they create a pretty display in our gardens.

In the cold and wet weather of February snowdrops push their way through the frozen earth to create swathes of white carpet in woodlands, meadows and gardens. Its Latin name ‘Galanthus nivalis’ means ‘milk flower’ and ‘nivalis’ meaning ‘of the snow’. If you want snowdrops in your garden next spring.  plant the bulbs are early as you can in the summer or early autumn (August even). If you are lucky enough to have clumps in your garden already, you  can move them ‘in the green’.  That is, dig up the clump while it is in leaf/flower, divide it and then replant.  This has the added advantage that you can actually see the plants, which you can’t do for most of the year, once it’s died down!

Although this lovely plant naturalises very easily once established, it can be tricky in its early days. It requires a moist environment to truly thrive often preferring damp woods and shady gardens. so avoid planting where the soil might dry out over the summer. Need advice? Call our Garden Centre in Titchfield where one of our staff will help you.

Did you know that Snowdrops are not native to the UK, although no one quite knows when they were introduced.

And did you know that they produce a naturally occurring substance called galantamine which is used to help treat the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease?  The bulbs themselves are poisonous, though, so don’t try to eat them!

These and more interesting facts about Snowdrops courtesy of the National Garden Scheme website here.