Snowdrops are miniature bells in thawed patches.

Snowdrop (Galantus Platphyllus) is a perennial bulbous crop., one of the varieties of snowdrop. The species belongs to the Amaryllis family, the variety is listed in the Red Book (why - we will consider below).

The variety is also called broad-leaved (G. Latifolius). This is a flower that is great for growing in gardens. Grows particularly well in middle lane Russia and in the northern regions.

Brief description of the plant

According to the description, flat-leaved snowdrop has a height of no more than 20 cm. Bulb diameter does not exceed 3 cm. Flat leaves are oblong. The color of the leaves is dark green without a bluish bloom. They have a shiny smooth surface.

During the flowering period, the length of the leaves is about 15 cm, and at the end of flowering they grow up to 25 cm. Due to the appearance of the leaves (flat and wide), the plant got its name.

Peduncle has a length of up to 20 cm. Perianth leaves are distinguished by a delicate, white color. The inner leaves are up to 7 mm long, and the outer ones up to 2 cm. The flower itself has a diameter of about 4 cm.

This culture begins to bloom in April, and the short flowering period itself lasts about a month.

Where does it grow

flat-leaved snowdrop became widespread in Georgia, as well as in North Ossetia. Where it grows: the species prefers to grow in alpine meadows, as well as in the gorges of mountain slopes.

When do they appear and when do they bloom?

You can see this snowdrop when the first snows melt and thawed patches appear. Flowering begins in mid-spring, around April. Flowers stay on stems for a month.

bloom culture at home cultivation begins only in the 3rd year after planting or sowing seeds. In one place, the plant can grow for 5 or more years.

When and why is the species listed in the Red Book?

Reasons for listing a flower in the Red Book:

• small area of ​​growth;
• rather rare variety in nature;
• collection for bouquets;
• digging bulbs for medicinal purposes;
• use as an ornamental plant.

The culture was listed in the Red Book of the RSFSR in 1988. Also, this variety is listed in the Red Book of North Ossetia.

Medicinal properties of the flat-leaved snowdrop

Snowdrop is a poisonous crop. It contains toxic substances such as alkaloids. Of particular importance is an alkaloid called galantamine.

This active substance is quickly absorbed into the blood, having a strong effect on nervous system. In this regard, the plant is included in the set of medical preparations and is also actively used in folk medicine.

Snowdrops are used to treat the following diseases:

• cerebral palsy and poliomyelitis;
• sciatica, polyneuritis;
• myopathy;
• myasthenia gravis;
• nerve ending injuries;
• fungus;
• skin diseases and boils;
• cancerous tumors.

Important information: before using the plant, you should consult with a specialist in order to avoid unpleasant consequences - poisoning and burns.

Since the culture is poisonous, not everyone can use it for treatment. Snowdrop is not recommended:

• pregnant and lactating women;
• persons under 16 years of age;
• suffering from epileptic syndrome;
• asthma sufferers;
• with diseases of the cardiovascular system;
• hypertensive patients.

Overdose symptoms:

• nausea, vomiting;
• dizziness;
• rare heartbeat;
• increased secretion of saliva.

In folk medicine, it is actively used in the form of ointments, tinctures, decoctions. For treatment all parts of the plant are used - bulbs, leaves, stems and flowers.

Landing Rules

For planting a snowdrop it is recommended to choose open sunny areas, or slightly shaded. If you plant a plant in the shade, the snow will not melt as quickly as in the sun, as a result of which flowering will be late and not as decorative.

The soil for planting will need loose, enriched nutrients and good water permeability. Snowdrop does not tolerate stagnant moisture in the soil. The composition of the soil must necessarily include humus or compost.

Watering is needed only at the stage of germination of seeds or bulbs., in the future it is necessary to water the culture moderately, only as needed.

Fertilizers are applied only at the stage of active growth. Snowdrops need elements such as phosphorus and potassium.

It is not necessary to apply fertilizer with a high nitrogen content, this can provoke the development of the fungus.

The flower does not need shelter for the winter like other types of plants.

reproduction

Reproduction of a broad-leaved snowdrop is possible in two ways:

1. Seeds.
2. Bulbs.

Seeds need to be sown immediately after harvest. because they quickly lose their viability. You need to deepen the seeds by about 1 cm in a light, nutritious soil.

Self-seeding gives excellent results, so there is no need to rush to collect seeds. Flowering will begin only in the third year after sowing seeds.

The division of the bulb and its further planting is carried out in late summer or early autumn. At this time, the culture is at rest.

For planting, you need to use only bulbs and seeds purchased in the store, digging bulbs in nature, as well as collecting seeds, are prohibited, since the flower is listed in the Red Book.

Other types and their differences

Many varieties of this crop are known, many of them are cultivated and grown in garden plots as ornamentals.

Caucasian

Caucasian is the most common variety of the genus. Grows in the Caucasus. The leaves at the end of flowering reach a length of about 30 cm. They have a dark green color with a bluish tint. Also called alpine.

Diameter white flower with a green speck - about 3 cm. The snowdrop begins to bloom in April. The flowering period is about 2 weeks.

It differs from the flat-leaved in the bluish shade of the leaves, as well as the flowering period, in the flat-leaved it is longer. Pronounced in Latin as Galantus Alpinus.

broad-leaved

Broad-leaved is the second name of the flat-leaved species. It differs from other species in wide and flat leaves without a bluish tint.

Snow white (white)

Snow-white - widespread in horticulture in temperate climate view. This variety begins to bloom already in March, which differs from many others, including the flat-leaved species.

The height of the culture does not exceed 15 cm. The leaves are dark green with a bluish tint. The flowers are very delicate, white, have a diameter of about 3 cm. In Latin, the name of the snowdrop sounds like Galantus Nivalis.

Thus, a broad-leaved or flat-leaved snowdrop is a fairly common culture in nature and horticulture. Listed in the Red Book.

This is unpretentious plant easy to grow on garden plot , propagated by seeds and bulbs. It differs from other varieties in wide and flat leaves.

Snowdrop or Galanthus belongs to the Amaryllis family. Although this rare plant is listed in the Red Book, grow it on own site not so difficult. Very quickly the flower spreads to large area. The quivering inhabitants of the forest will delight you with the beauty of awakening nature and delicate aroma. They suddenly appear in small groups in thawed patches. First, juicy green shoots contrast with the snow, and then tiny flower heads bloom.

Snowdrops can exist not only on the street, but also in pots on the balcony. And miniature bouquets will stand in a vase for a long time, reminding you of the arrival of spring.

Botanical description

Galanthus is a tiny bulbous perennial. It is distributed in Central and Southern Europe, in central Russia, in the Caucasus and in Asia Minor. The bulb is elongated vertically, its diameter is 2-3 cm. As it grows, children (small daughter bulbs) form under the outer scales.

The plant has a very short growing season. In early spring, when the sun begins to warm more strongly and the snow melts, snowdrops wake up and release their first leaves. Depending on the climate zone, this can occur from February to May. After a short flowering, the shoots die off and completely disappear by mid-summer.

The elongated bulbous neck contains 2-3 oblong lanceolate leaves of a dark green color. The length of the leaves ranges from 10 to 25 cm. A single peduncle appears simultaneously with the leaves. It carries a single drooping milky bell. The corolla consists of three elongated, oval bracts and three wedge-shaped, shorter petals. The flowers exude a faint but pleasant aroma.

After pollination, a seed pod with dense walls ripens in place of the bud. Internal partitions divide it into 3 compartments. They contain several small black seeds.

Popular varieties

According to various classifications, there are 12-25 varieties in the genus Galanthus. This discrepancy is due to the fact that some plants are too similar to each other and botanists argue whether to attribute them to separate species or to an already registered one. Let us dwell on the most famous and cultivated varieties.

The plant is common in the mountain forests of Transcaucasia. The yellowish bulb reaches a length of 4 cm, and a width of 2 cm. Dark green flattened leaves with a wax coating rise above it. The length of the plant is 18 cm. The peduncle about 6 cm high carries a snow-white bell. The outer bracts are obovate in shape, slightly curved, their length is about 2 cm. Inside are wedge-shaped petals, they are half as long. On the petals, above the notch, a green spot is visible. Blooms in March.

This species is the most common in Russia for cultivation in culture. It is actively growing and occupies the adjacent territories. In mid-March, 2 narrow sheets of bluish-green color grow out of the soil. Fragrant bells consist of elongated petals white color. Closer to the pharynx on the perianth is a yellow spot. Flowering lasts all April. This species has become the basis for several hybrid varieties:

• Flore Peno - terry variety with greenish inner petals;
• Lutescens is a moody plant with miniature pale flowers;
• Lady Elphinstone - terry variety with yellow spots on the inner petals;
• Arnot - long white bracts hide a short flower with green spots;
• Viridapicis - blooms already at the end of February with large flowers, there are green spots at the ends of all petals.

The plant is found in the Alpine foothills and is most suitable for northern regions. Above a large bulb 4-5 cm long, erect dark green leaves are located. During the flowering period, their length is 16 cm, and later it reaches 20-25 cm. A white bell is located on a peduncle 15-20 cm long. Oval outer petals hide short ovate ones. A shapeless green spot is visible on the flower. There is no notch on the petals. Flowering occurs in May-June for 20 days. No fruiting, propagated vegetatively.

Also popular among the people blue snowdrops. However, this plant does not belong to the genus Galanthus. Most often, under this name they mean scillas from the Asparagus family. They are quite similar in external structure and early flowering, but they have nothing to do with snowdrops.

Reproduction methods

Most convenient way snowdrops breeding is the branch of young bulbs. Every year on mother plant 1-3 additional onions are formed. After 3-5 years, when the curtain grows enough, it can be divided. In August-September, after the foliage has completely dried, snowdrops can be transplanted. The bush is carefully divided by hand, trying not to damage the thin rhizome. Bulbs are planted to a depth of 6-8 cm singly or in small groups.

Seed propagation is considered more difficult, although it allows you to get many plants at once. The seeds must be allowed to fully mature. Crops are produced immediately after harvest, as they quickly lose their germination capacity. Sow seeds in open ground to a depth of 1-2 cm. Seedlings bloom in 3-4 years. The place should be chosen shady, calm.

Features of care

Location. Miniature snowdrops grow easily and do not need careful care. However, they are very demanding on the location and composition of the soil. Plant them under trees. The place should be quite shady in summer, but well warmed up by the sun in early spring. Ideal landing under deciduous tall trees such as walnut, cherry, chestnut and others.

Temperature. The plant normally tolerates even very coldy and does not require additional protection. In summer, excessive overheating can lead to the death of the bulbs. To do this, you need shade from the trees.

The soil should be nutritious and moist, but without stagnant water. Loose substrates with the addition of compost or humus are suitable. Sand must be added to clay soil.

Watering snowdrops are needed only in severe drought. Usually they have enough water from melted snow and spring rains.

Fertilizer. During the growing season and flowering, it is worth feeding monthly. Choose phosphate and potassium liquid complexes. From an excess of nitrogen, foliage grows strongly, which is subsequently often affected by fungal diseases.

Diseases and pests. With regular stagnation of water in the soil, snowdrops suffer from fungal diseases (rust, powdery mildew, chlorosis). To protect rare plants, you need to choose the right composition of the soil and place. Periodically, it is recommended to transplant and treat the bulbs with a fungicide. The natural pests of Galanthus are slugs, caterpillars, bulbous nematodes, and mice. Coarse sand and shell rock are scattered around the lawn from rodents and slugs, and turf with grass is also placed around the perimeter. From small insects, insecticide treatment will save.

Planting and caring for snowdrops

Usage

By planting snowdrops on the site, you can not only decorate the territory, but also propagate the endangered plant. Galanthus are good in group plantings in rock gardens or in the middle of a lawn. If, however, they are evenly distributed under the trees, you can get a solid carpet, like in a forest.

In flower beds, snowdrops are placed in the foreground, along with others. shade-tolerant plants. When the first flowers fade, attention will turn to the neighbors. These can be blueberries, corydalis, primroses, lungworts, peonies, hosts and even ferns.

Snowdrop bouquets look great in a vase without any decoration, but can be combined with leafy or other flowering specimens. You should not pick a lot of flowers and collect them in the forest, because the snowdrop is listed in the Red Book of Russia. It is better to admire their gentle beauty on the street.

Interestingly, the plant contains galantamine. This alkaloid was isolated in the middle of the 20th century. It is used in traditional medicine and is included in preparations to combat Alzheimer's disease and other diseases of the nervous system.

Snowdrops in landscape design

Snowdrop (Galantus)- herbaceous plant Amaryllis family, genus perennial herbs(in nature, there are about 20 species, most of which grow in the Caucasus and Asia).

How many species of snowdrops exist today, biologists cannot say, because they have several opinions on this matter. However, they are all sure that the number of varieties of the plant exceeds 18. Snowdrops of many species are largely similar to each other and have approximately the same size, and they received their names either from the place of growth or in honor of the people who discovered and explored them.

Snowdrops are one of the first flowers that bloom immediately after the snow cover melts, and many people can easily recognize them even in photos, but for those who are not yet familiar with snowdrops, we will give short description and the name of the most common species of this plant.

Admiring these fragile flowers, few people thought about what types of snowdrop are listed in the Red Book, although in fact, almost all of them are noted in it, except for the snow-white snowdrop. All species are threatened with extinction to some extent, as they are found in the wild only in certain areas in limited numbers, and deforestation, destruction of soil in their places of growth, environmental pollution and digging up their bulbs for breeding at home can affect the extinction. a plant like the snowdrop.

We will now tell you what a real snowdrop of each of the main species looks like, and the attached photos will clearly demonstrate the beauty of these marvelous plants.

Did you know? The name "snowdrop" in literal translation means "milk flower".

Alpine snowdrop (Galanthus alpinus) - grassy bulbous plant, the length of the bulb of which is 25-35 mm, and the diameter is 15-20 mm. Broadly lanceolate leaves of a dark green color, up to 7 cm long, although after flowering they can grow up to 20 cm. The peduncle reaches a length of 7-9 cm, the outer perianthous leaves are obovate, slightly concave, up to 20 mm wide, and up to 10 mm long, internal - half as small, wedge-shaped, with a depression surrounded by a greenish spot.

The plant begins to bloom 4 years after planting. It blooms in late winter-early spring with white flowers, in addition, at the end of spring a fruit with small seeds appears. Reproduction is possible seed way, and vegetative - with the help of baby bulbs, which are formed in an adult plant. The birthplace of the alpine snowdrop is the lower and alpine belt, as well as Western Transcaucasia.

Byzantine snowdrop

Byzantine snowdrop (Galanthus byzantinus) grows on the Asian coast of the Bosphorus. Flower growers in countries like to grow it Western Europe, although in our country this species has not yet received widespread. Prefers turfed open areas. The Byzantine snowdrop is the closest variety of the folded snowdrop.

Its flowering period falls in autumn: first, a low peduncle appears with a green speck at the base of the inner perianth leaves. Appearance snowdrop is unusual: a white carved flower with many long petals. The leaves are green, narrow, about 5-6 cm long, erect.

Caucasian snowdrop (Galanthus caucasicus) - a plant with linear flat shiny leaves of green color, reaching a length of up to 25 cm. The bulb is yellowish, up to 40 mm long, up to 25 mm in diameter. Peduncle 6-10 cm high produces a white fragrant flower 20-25 mm long and about 15 mm in diameter.

Perianth segments with inside partly green. Flowering occurs from the end of March and lasts 12-15 days. Fruiting is irregular, and shelter is required for wintering. In the Caucasian snowdrop, the habitat is more concentrated in the Central Transcaucasus.

Important! Snowdrop bulbs are poisonous, so protective gloves should be used when transplanting this plant.

Bortkiewicz snowdrop (Galanthus bortkewitschianus) grows in the wild in the North Caucasus, preferring beech plantations. It got its name in honor of the dendrologist Bortkiewicz.

The bulb of the plant is about 30-40 mm long, 20-30 mm in diameter. Snowdrop leaves are rich green in color with a bluish tint, lanceolate, during the flowering period their length is 4-6 cm, but after that they grow up to 25-30 cm in length and up to 2 cm in width. The peduncle grows to a height of about 5-6 cm with a wing and a pedicel of 3-4 cm. and green coloring around the recess.

Snowdrop Krasnov (G. krasnovii) grows on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus and Turkey, prefers beech, hornbeam and mixed forests. The flower got its name in honor of the botanist A. Krasnov.

The bulb of the plant is 20-35 mm long, 20-25 mm in diameter, and the bright green leaf during flowering reaches a length of 11-17 cm, and a width of about 2 cm, after flowering the leaves grow up to 25 cm. The peduncle reaches 13- 15 cm, with a wing up to 4 cm long, with barely noticeable green keels. The outer tepals are slightly concave, 2-3 cm long, and about 1 cm wide, the inner ones are elongated with a pointed end, 10-15 cm long, about 5 mm wide. Flowering occurs in early spring.

White snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) most common in our country, growing rapidly, spreading over quite large areas.The bulb is spherical, with a diameter of 10-20 mm. The leaves are flat rich green in color, about 10 cm long, the peduncles grow up to 12 cm high. The flowers are very large, up to 30 mm in diameter, have a green speck on the edge of the perianth leaf. The outer tepals are elongated, the inner ones are much shorter, wedge-shaped.

The white snowdrop blooms earlier than other species, and the flowering period lasts up to 25-30 days. This species has many varieties and varieties. Reproduction takes place as vegetatively, and seed, self-seeding is possible.

Snowdrop broadleaf (Galanthus plathyphyllus) It has large onion up to 5 cm long, from which erect leaves grow, rich green in color, up to 16 cm long. A high peduncle (up to 20 cm) gives a large white bell-shaped flower, the outer petals of which are elliptical in shape and cover the shorter and rounded inner ones. There is no notch on the petals, but there is a noticeable green spot.

Broad-leaved snowdrop blooms in late spring for 18-21 days. Fruits are not formed, the plant propagates by vegetative method. This species is distributed at the foot of the Alps, ideal for growing in our latitudes in fertile loose soil with sufficient lighting.

Did you know?It has been observed that a longer and frostier winter also prolongs the duration of snowdrop blooms in spring.

Folded snowdrop (G. plicatus) is one of the tallest types of snowdrops with quite large flower and characteristic downcurved leaf margins. In the wild, it grows in the mountainous areas of Ukraine, Romania and Moldova.

The bulb of the plant is ovoid, up to 30 mm in diameter, covered with light-colored scales. The leaves are a pale green color with a bluish tint, but after flowering, their color becomes dark green. The peduncle grows up to 20-25 cm, and on it there is a single fragrant drooping flower, 25-30 mm long and up to 40 mm in diameter, which subsequently gives a fruit box with seeds.

Flowering begins in March and lasts approximately 20 days. Reproduction - seed and bulbous. The folded snowdrop grows densely in the adjacent area, there can be up to 25 plants per 1 m², which, when blooming, form a beautiful flower bed.

Cilician snowdrop (G. silicicus) grows in the foothills of the mountains of Asia Minor and Transcaucasia. The bulb is wedge-shaped, 15-23 mm long, and up to 20 mm in diameter. The linear leaves are matte green, growing up to 15 cm long and up to 1.5 cm wide. Peduncle 14-16 cm long with a wing of 3 cm. The outer tepals are 19-22 mm long, elongate-oval, slightly tapering at the base, the inner ones are elongated, up to 10 mm long, have a depression at the top with a partial green color. Flowering occurs in mid-spring.

Snowdrop Corfu (G. corcyrensis Stern)- got its name from the places of its growth - the island of Corfu, is also found in Sicily. Flowering occurs in late autumn, and characteristic feature of this rare endangered snowdrop is the simultaneous appearance of leaves and flowers. This species is medium in size, with a rather large flower up to 25-30 mm long and 30-40 mm in diameter. On the inner petals there is a peculiar green pattern.

Elwez snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) up to 25 cm high, grows in Eastern Europe, where it is also cultivated. Leaves up to 30 mm wide, bluish tint. Flowers - spherical large, their length reaches 5 cm, very fragrant. The inner tepals are marked with green spots. Flowering begins at the end of winter and lasts up to 30 days.

Foster's snowdrop

Foster's snowdrop got its name in honor of the collector M. Foster. The snowdrop of this species grows in the territory of Western Asia, but the cultivation of flowers takes place in the countries of Western Europe. Flowering begins in early spring and lasts up to 15 days.

The leaves are narrow, lanceolate, up to 14 cm long, while the peduncle reaches a length of 10 cm. The flowers are medium in size. The outer tepals are concave, with characteristic green spots near the depression at the base, as well as at the top of the inner leaf.

Snowdrops are perennials, which are mainly found in nature, but can also be grown in the country. Total in vivo there are about 20 varieties of this flower culture, and some of them are listed in the Red Book.

From this article you will learn which varieties of rare and ornamental plants exist, and you can also get acquainted with their external features.

Types of snowdrops with photos and names

Scientists still cannot name the exact number of varieties, but they agree that there are more than 20 of them. At the same time, many plants are very similar in appearance and differ only in a few small details.

Since they are successfully used to decorate gardens, consider the most popular types, and their photos will help you decide which variety is best to grow.

Alpine

It is a bulbous plant that is successfully cultivated on summer cottages although it is also found in nature. The beginning of flowering falls on the fourth year after planting: at the end of winter or early spring, long green leaves appear from under the ground, and later, small white buds.

Figure 1. Alpine variety plants

At the end of spring, when the flowering period ends, small boxes of seeds appear that can be used for propagation. For cultivation, you can also use baby bulbs, which are formed on the mother bush. In the wild, it is found in the Alps and the Caucasus, but it is also successfully cultivated in other climatic zones.

Byzantine

Homeland is the Asian coast of the Bosphorus. It is also successfully grown in Europe, although it has not yet become widespread in our country.

Note: In fact, the variety is a kind of folded, and is valued for its high decorative effect.

A characteristic feature of the variety is in an unusual flowering period. Unlike other species, Byzantine blooms not in spring, but in autumn. Its appearance is also unusual: a white carved inflorescence is surrounded by several snow-white long petals.

Caucasian

As the name implies, the plant is found in the Caucasus, mainly in the central regions. Like other varieties, it has long and narrow green leaves, and the inflorescence is white (Figure 2).

Figure 2. External Features Caucasian variety

A characteristic feature is the presence of small green blotches on the inside of the petals. Flowering begins in March and lasts about two weeks. At the same time, it will not be possible to receive seeds annually, since fruiting is irregular. In addition, when grown at home, the culture requires shelter for the winter.

snow white

This variety is considered the most popular in our country, and perhaps everyone has seen it. He has long narrow leaves, and the inflorescences are quite large and can reach 30 mm in diameter.

Note: It grows quite quickly and without human intervention. If you plant it in a free area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe cottage, in a few years the plants will spread throughout the garden.

A feature is the relatively early onset of flowering and its high duration. You can admire the delicate buds already in early March and until April, for about 25-30 days. The culture can be propagated both by seeds and bulbs, but in some cases self-sowing is also possible.

Folded

Outwardly, it differs significantly from others. First of all, it is quite high (up to 25 cm). In addition, it has large inflorescences, the diameter of which can reach 40 mm. But it should be borne in mind that during the flowering period one plant can throw out only one peduncle (Figure 3).

Figure 3. External features of folded flowers

Under natural conditions, it is found in the mountainous regions of Romania, Moldova and Ukraine, but it is also successfully cultivated in summer cottages. As with other species, flowering begins in March and lasts for two to three weeks. The culture has a high decorative effect, as it quickly grows on its own, forming a lush carpet. Under such conditions, one square meter may account for up to 25 plants.

Elveza

AT natural conditions found in Eastern Europe, where it is successfully grown and cultivated. The flower is considered quite high and large: the height can reach 25 cm, and the size of the bud is 5 cm. In addition, they have a bright pleasant aroma (Figure 4).

Figure 4. Features of the Elveza variety

Another one distinguishing feature- long flowering. The first buds appear already at the end of winter or the beginning of spring and do not fade for 30 days.

Many associate early spring with these small delicate flowers, because they are the first to appear from under the snow, and delight the eye after the winter cold.

Figure 5. First spring flowers

Many have seen a green carpet of ordinary garden flowers, so we suggest that you familiarize yourself with their photos in natural conditions (Figure 5).

Photo of a snowdrop from the Red Book

Despite the fact that many species are successfully grown in gardens and greenhouses, forest species have become endangered due to human fault. By picking them, people not only destroy the natural beauty, but also prevent the flowers from multiplying. naturally, as crop bulbs are often damaged during collection.

Figure 6. Appearance of plants listed in the Red Book

AT this moment the forest species is listed in the Red Book and it is prohibited by law to pluck it (Figure 6). But, unfortunately, this does not stop poachers at all, who pluck flowers in early spring (often along with bulbs) for sale. In fact, this does not make sense at all, since outwardly they practically do not differ from other species that can be grown in a country house or in a greenhouse for sale.

In the video you can see what they look like different varieties of this culture, including those listed in the Red Book.

Photo of white snowdrops

You can admire the carpet of white inflorescences in the picture, but it is much more pleasant to grow such plants in the garden. For this, seeds collected with your own hands, or bulbs bought in a specialized store, are suitable.

Figure 7. Photo of white spring flowers

The value of plants is preserved only if they are in the flower bed. If you pick these flowers, the bouquet will last no longer than a few days, while in the garden they can delight you for a month.

Shortly after Adam and Eve were expelled from paradise, winter came. It lasted a long time, severe frosts reigned on the ground, and the cold ruthless snow spared absolutely no one. In the end, Eva could not stand it - and burst into tears. She cried not so much from pain and cold, but from regret about the mistake she had made and about the lost paradise. And then the Lord took pity on her - and turned her tears into the most delicate flowers of this world. This is how snowdrops appeared in the snow, signaling the arrival of spring.

The forest snowdrop has long been a symbol of spring, purity, youth and freshness, and also says that you need to rejoice in both the present and the future, and drive memories of failures from your heart - therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that these tender, beautiful flowers extremely popular.

Snowdrops, the first flowers of spring, or as the Greeks called them, galanthus (“milk flowers”) belong to the genus of perennial grasses of the Amaryllis family, are early small-bulbous plants and are listed in the Red Book.

In the wild, snowdrops grow in the forest: in the center and in the south of the European continent, there are many of them on the coast of the Black and Caspian Seas, as well as in Asia Minor. These flowers give preference sunny areas, although they grow without problems in the shade, but they do not tolerate areas with stagnant water.

Appearance

Snowdrop flowers are white, have green spots from the very edge of the petals (plants of other colors are not snowdrops). The graceful bell-shaped shape of the galanthus is given by the structure of its petals: the flower has six petals, three of which are outer (longer), three are inner (short).

This flower has few leaves, the shape is narrow, flat, dark green or gray-green in color. Galanthus leaves are usually about 1 cm wide. The round bulb of the plant, from which only one flower grows, is small: about three centimeters in diameter.

Varieties

In total, there are 18 species and two natural hybrids of Galanthus, most of which are listed in the Red Book. Twelve of them grow in the post-Soviet space (most of all in the Caucasus).

Three types of these plants are especially popular:

1. White galanthus. White snowdrop (has more than 50 varieties) not only blooms before all its relatives, but also blooms the longest - about 30 days. These plants middle length- from 7 to 12 cm, its flowers are elegant, white, with a yellow spot inside, have a pleasant aroma.
2. Snowdrops are snowy. Snowdrops are one of the most popular species of this plant, blooming in mid-late March, and growing in the forests of Europe. Height - from 10 to 15 cm, leaves are flat, gray-green in color from 0.4 to 1 cm wide, length - 10 cm. drooping bell, white with a green speck.
3. Galanthus Elwes. Elwes snowdrops can be seen in the forests of Asia Minor, while they begin to bloom earlier than the snowdrop snowdrop and are larger in size. The height of the snowdrop Elves is from 15 to 25 m, the leaves are bluish-green, their width can rarely reach 2 cm, and the flowers of the snowdrop are white, large, spherical.

Plants of the Red Book

The forest snowdrop turned out to be a victim of human love, because after a harsh snowy winter, people who are hungry for greenery are not averse to bringing a bouquet of snowdrops home and decorating their apartment with them. They are plucked completely in vain - by this time the forest snowdrop had just appeared, it did not look special, because it had not yet blossomed, and these flowers did not last long - only a few days.

If the forest snowdrop used to grow in many countries, now there are extremely few galanthus left, because people, picking them up to make a bouquet of snowdrops, also often spoil the bulb, completely rendering it unusable.

These plants are especially affected in early spring, during the spring holidays, when on March 8 women are presented with these delicate-looking flowers.

The forest snowdrop is listed in the Red Book as an endangered species, which means that picking and collecting it in the forest in order to form a bouquet of snowdrops is prohibited. At the same time, as long as there is demand, there will always be supply, and therefore, already at the end of spring, snowdrops picked in the forest are sold in large quantities on the streets and markets of both large and small cities.

When buying a forest snowdrop, you must always keep in mind that poachers thus receive a good income and a tangible incentive in order to next year find, dig up snowdrops in the snow and bring them to the city (no fines prescribed by law scare them, because the benefit is still greater).

greenhouse plants

If you really want to please yourself and your loved ones with galanthus and bring home a bouquet of snowdrops, you can buy plants grown in greenhouses (to make sure that the seller is not a scammer, just ask him for a certificate). Flower growers - this plant is grown with pleasure, because it is not very difficult to do this.

Flowers are not absolutely unpretentious: despite the fact that they tolerate changes in weather and temperature well, they are very demanding on the ground - therefore, flower growers for planting these flowers specially purchase a snowdrop greenhouse, ideal for installation in the ground or in a greenhouse (it prevents the soil from overcooling and creates optimal conditions for growing galanthus).

Before planting the bulbs, the soil is well fertilized with peat or humus. It is highly undesirable to plant these plants in the spring during the flowering period, since they rarely take root and almost always die. A snowdrop is transplanted into a greenhouse after the leaves of the flower die off (mid-summer), when the old roots of the snowdrops have already died out, and the new ones have not yet appeared.

Considering that dried bulbs take root hard (and they are sold mainly in this condition), they should be planted in the ground immediately after purchase to a depth of 6 to 8 cm. Flower growers recommend transplanting snowdrop plants every five to six years. Snowdrops grow well without a transplant and for a longer period.

These plants can also be planted with seeds - but in this case you will have to be patient: the seedlings will bloom in best case for the third year. Seeds should be sown immediately after they are harvested, as they quickly become unusable and lose their germination capacity.