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Galanthus nivalis

Bucaneve · Common Snowdrop · Flower of Hope · Snowdrop · Candlemas Bells

Family AmaryllidaceaeGenus Galanthus

A dense clump of snowdrops in flower at the foot of a stone wall
The whole plantTim GreenCC BY 2.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

Safety

Toxicity
Low severity. Flowers, Leaves, Roots. Phenanthridine alkaloids.Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

The plant

Habit
BulbPlant Finder
Habit
bulbous geophytePlants of the World Online
Height
0.5-0.75 ft15-25 cmPlant Finder
Spread
0.25-0.5 ft10-15 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy; whitePlant Finder
Blooms
FebruaryPlant Finder
Native range
EuropePlant Finder
Hardiness zones
3-7Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun to part shadePlant Finder
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • The best known and most widespread of the 20 snowdrops. It contains galantamine, which can help treat mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, though it is not a cure. Wikipedia: Galanthus nivalis

This source reports 4 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 1, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned for seven days.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    80% germinated here, in the 4th week.

7 days from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4, in 28 days.

80% germination in 28 days.

The best run Deno got. Germination was less without the seven-day wash.

This source doesn't state how long steps 2 and 3 last.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G. nivalis germ. 70-40(45% in 2-5 w) and 40-70-40(80% in 4th w) in a sample WC for 7 d. Germination was less without the WC. Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead, and seed DS 6 m at 40 was largely dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around February 22, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Leach in running water

    Duration: 7 days

    Washed and cleaned for seven days.

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    45% germinated here, in 2-5 weeks.

7 days from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 35 days.

45% germination in 14–35 days.

Germination is hypogeal and happens at 40; the true leaf follows a week or two after the shift to 70.

This source doesn't state how long step 2 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G. nivalis germ. 70-40(45% in 2-5 w) and 40-70-40(80% in 4th w) in a sample WC for 7 d. Germination was less without the WC. Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead, and seed DS 6 m at 40 was largely dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

    Largely dead.

Germination happens during step 1.

Deno gives no figure beyond 'largely dead'.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G. nivalis germ. 70-40(45% in 2-5 w) and 40-70-40(80% in 4th w) in a sample WC for 7 d. Germination was less without the WC. Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead, and seed DS 6 m at 40 was largely dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    The seed was dead.

Germination happens during step 1.

0% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, GalanthusPublic domain
Show the original text
Galanthus (Amaryllidaceae). Germination was hypogeal and largely at 40. When the 3 m cycle at 40 was over and the seedlings shifted to 70, the true leaf developed in a week or two. DS is deleterious but not completely fatal. G. nivalis germ. 70-40(45% in 2-5 w) and 40-70-40(80% in 4th w) in a sample WC for 7 d. Germination was less without the WC. Seed DS 6 m at 70 was dead, and seed DS 6 m at 40 was largely dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Galanthus. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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