- Fragrant flowers, larger than most snowdrops
- Good for shady gardens
- Flowers in early spring
- Fully established spread: 5cm
- Planting depth: 10cm
Galanthus elwesii is one of the best snowdrops for naturalising, with gleaming white nodding flowers that are bigger than most snowdrops, the inner petals marked with green. The flowers have a beautiful honey fragrance.
Galanthus elwesii holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its reliable garden performance, and once established, these delicate-looking spring bulbs will come back year after year, gradually spreading to form a snowy carpet of flowers under trees and shrubs or in a border. They’re perfect for a shady spot, signalling the start of spring.
How you will receive your bulbs:
Selected by our team of experts and sent from our nursery, you will receive spring-flowering bulbs in the autumn in a breathable mesh bag. This is to keep the bulbs together in a pack that is nice and airy – perfect to keep the bulbs healthy while in transit.
Can’t plant straight away?
Keep your bulbs in a cool, light, and dry place and preferably hanging on a hook so that air can get to the bulbs at all angles. Ideally, you should aim to plant your bulbs within a week of receiving them, but if this is not possible, store them in a cool, dark place until you are ready to plant them.
Planting tips and hints:
Planting in the ground: You can plant your snowdrop bulbs any time between September and November, but it’s a good idea to plant them sooner rather than later, to avoid the bulbs drying out. Snowdrops prefer a position in semi-shade, in a well-drained soil enriched with humus or leaf mould.
Dig a hole with a trowel or a bulb planter approximately 10cm deep. Plant bulbs approximately 10cm apart. Place the bulb in the hole with the tip facing upwards, then fill the hole and compact the soil gently. Water in to moisten the soil.
Planting in containers: Place a layer of stones or gravel at the bottom of a container in order to aid drainage. Fill the container with bulb compost mixed with potting grit. Plant the bulbs in the compost about 10cm deep and 1-2cm apart. Water just enough to settle the soil, then place the container in a sheltered place over autumn and winter before moving into a sunny place when the shoots stat to show.
Aftercare: Allow snowdrop leaves to die back naturally before cutting them. If you are naturalizing snowdrops in a lawn, leave that part of the lawn uncut until the flowers have died and the leaves have turned yellow. Over time, snowdrops will multiply and spread. To encourage this, dig up large clumps of snowdrops in spring once flowering has finished, and divide and replant them.
Click here to view our full snowdrop bulb growing guide.
*Planting and flowering months below are subject to seasonal weather conditions.
