A large bed of Snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis, on a woodland floor, emerging through the previous autumn’s oak leaves.
Snowdrops are among the earliest flowers to appear at the beginning of each year – but the date is never predictable. For example, in my own garden, they were several in full bloom on 4th January in 2017, but this year, 2022, there are just a few flowers looking as though they might come through in a day or two, and it’s already the 16th of January.
Little known fact: Snowdrops don’t have petals. They have six white tepals. The three outer tepals are larger, and open and close during the day and night. The three inner tepals are smaller and have green, v-shaped markings.
The perianth (also termed the perigonium) is the outermost, nonreproductive group of modified leaves of a flower. If the perianth is relatively undifferentiated, or if its components intergrade in form, the individual leaflike parts are termed tepals.
Science Direct
This is the native woodland species of snowdrop. There are several other species and cultivars, some highly sought after by collectors.
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