Snowdrops symbolise hope S

nowdrops are one of the first flowers of the year, traditionally putting on a show for Candlemas, (February 2) and they symbolise Hope. Climate change is now seeing Snowdrops flower earlier and earlier.

Snowdrops flower well in moist shade, although they too don’t like waterlogging. The bulbs notoriously dry out rapidly out of the soil so it’s best to plant them when growing and flowering. Pot-grown plants can be planted at any time. Many nurseries sell them “in the green”; as bunches of leafy bulbs freshly dug from the soil just after flowering has finished. Dry bulbs rarely succeed. Add compost or leaf mould to the soil and plant about 4in / 10cm deep. Once you have an established clump you can sit back and enjoy the show year after year. There’s no need to cut back the leaves after flowering as they feed the bulbs and soon die back naturally. If you are growing your snowdrops in grass, avoid mowing until the leaves die back.

If your snowdrops eventually become shy of flowering, it’s time to dig them up before they die back and divide the clumps before replanting in refreshed soil.

The only problem you are likely to encounter is that squirrels and less commonly mice will dig up the bulbs when you first plant them. Physical barriers such as rabbit wire can deter squirrels; lay as a sheet across the area, weighted down and hidden by a mulch of leaves or make a dome or frame to cover smaller areas.

Snowdrops can be confused with snowflakes (Leucojum) some of which also flower in spring, others in summer. These can be planted from dry bulbs more successfully. The spring flowering ones are varieties of L.vernum; the summer ones tend to be a lot taller.

There are now many hundreds of varieties of snowdrop and collectors, known as Galanthophiles, pay big money for rare and new varieties. For the less smitten gardener there are plenty of common varieties at reasonable prices; the choice is for single or double flowers and green or yellow markings.

Snowdrops can be planted alongside other early flowering bulbs and corms such as crocus, cyclamen and dog’s tooth violet. They also associate well with hellebores, winter aconite and winter flowering shrubs like lonicera or viburnum. In all cases it’s best to keep the snowdrops in clumps for greater impact.

Pottertons Alpine Nursery offer a great range of bulbs and potted plants. They attend some of our Plant Hunters’ Fairs or visit www.pottertons.co.uk for more details.

Martin Blow

Janet & I run Plant Hunters’ Fairs, specialist plant fairs at wonderful locations offering special reduced entry rates to the gardens on the plant fair dates.

Plant Fair dates for 2023:

Sugnall Walled Garden, Eccleshall on Saturday 25th March, Garden and Fair £1.

The Dorothy Clive Garden on Sunday 9th and Monday 10th April, Garden and Fair £5. Cholmondeley Castle Garden on Sunday 23rd April, Garden and Fair price tbc.

Weston Park on Sunday 30th April & Monday 1st May, Garden and Fair £4.

Capesthorne Hall, Macclesfield on Sunday 14th May, Gardens and Fair £4.

Please check www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk for event status before travelling. Some venues may require tickets to be purchased in advance.