Snowdrop is the name of a group of flowering plants native to Europe, the Middle East, and western Asia. Some species, including the common snowdrop of Europe, are commonly grown in gardens. Snowdrops bear nodding, white, bell-shaped flowers. Snowdrops are one of the earliest spring flowers, and they sometimes flower during warm spells in midwinter. Some snowdrops bloom in the fall. The common snowdrop is sometimes called the Fair Maid of February.
Snowdrops grow from a small bulb that produces two or three narrow leaves and a flower stalk. The stalk of the common snowdrop usually grows from 4 to 9 inches (10 to 23 centimeters) tall. Snowdrops are easy to cultivate, and they grow best in partial shade and moist soil. The bulbs are planted 3 to 4 inches (7.5 to 10 centimeters) deep in the fall. Snowdrop plants multiply each year, and a few bulbs may eventually produce large clumps of snowdrops.
