National Trust
Hello snowdrops
First signs of spring
Perhaps the best known of the winter flowers, snowdrops are thought to have been introduced to British gardens in the late 15th century from mainland Europe. They flower between January and March.
A growing family
There are 20 species of wild snowdrop, of which Galanthus nivalis is the most common. Over the years over 1,000 new varieties have been cultivated. New varieties are also created by cross-fertilisation.
Going wild
Snowdrops aren’t native to the UK. Historians believe they were introduced from Europe in the late 15th century. Cultivated varieties became popular in Elizabethan gardens and were first recorded growing wild in the 1770s.
Tougher than they look
Their buds have a hard tip that helps them break through frozen soil. The sap also contains a type of antifreeze which helps to protects them from frost.
Homes for bees
Bees love snowdrops. They're a vital source of nectar early in the year when not many other plants are in flower. By planting snowdrops, you'll be building on the eco-system this vital species calls home.
Read our news
Get the latest news from around the Trust. We’re beginning a project to protect North Yorkshire's Skell Valley, including the globally important Fountains Abbey, from flooding thanks to a £1.4m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.