PLANT OF THE MONTH- FEBRUARY

by Sigrie Kendrick

Why are snowdrops remarkable?

Galanthus nivalis, commonly known as the snowdrop, is a small bulbous perennial plant that has captured the hearts of gardeners and nature enthusiasts worldwide. Native to Europe and parts of the Middle East, this delicate flower is one of the earliest bloomers in the garden calendar, often pushing through frozen soil and even snow cover to display its pristine white flowers.

The botanical name offers insight into its nature – “Galanthus” derives from Greek words meaning “milk flower,” while “nivalis” refers to snow, aptly describing both its appearance and its winter-blooming habit. The snowdrop typically grows to about 15 centimeters in height, with narrow, blue-green leaves and a single pendant flower consisting of three outer tepals and three shorter inner tepals marked with green.

What makes snowdrops particularly remarkable is their ability to flower in the coldest months of the year, usually between January and March in the Northern Hemisphere. This is made possible by several adaptations, including antifreeze proteins in their tissues that prevent damage from freezing temperatures. The drooping posture of the flowers also serves a practical purpose, protecting the plant’s reproductive parts from rain, snow, and cold winds.

Galanthus Nivalis – the promise of Spring

Snowdrops contain compounds of medical interest, notably galantamine, which is used in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. This alkaloid was first isolated from snowdrops and related species in the Amaryllidaceae family, showcasing how even the smallest garden plants can hold significant pharmaceutical value.

For garden enthusiasts, snowdrops inspire a particular passion, sometimes leading to “galanthomania” – the obsessive collection of different snowdrop varieties. Despite their seemingly simple appearance, there are over 20 species and hundreds of cultivars differing in size, flowering time, and the patterns of green markings on their inner tepals. Some rare varieties can fetch prices in the hundreds of dollars for a single bulb.

Planting snowdrops is straightforward, though they prefer partial shade and humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil. They naturalize readily in suitable conditions, forming impressive carpets over time. Most effectively, they are planted “in the green” – that is, shortly after flowering when still in leaf, rather than as dry bulbs.

For many gardeners, the sight of the first snowdrops emerging marks a significant moment in the yearly cycle – a promise that spring, with all its abundance, is on its way.

Our Plant Database features more than 500 plants tested and ideally suited for the unique challenges of gardening in the Okanagan’s extreme climate, including the plants in this article.

Gardening with Nature

Article by Sigrie Kendrick

Plant spring bulbs now for xeriscape colour later

In addition to perennials, fall is the ideal time to get a jump on next year’s garden by planting bulbs to provide a pop of colour in the spring garden.

A xeriscape flower that many people don’t think of is the spring-flowering bulbs such as narcissis, crocus, tulips and scillas.

Drought-tolerant or technically, drought-avoidant bulbs, bloom before the heat of the summer season and benefit from dry conditions once they have finished blooming.

Since our mandate is to help educate people about ways to conserve water used on the landscape, promoting spring bulbs is right up there with hiking for a fun fall activity, in my books.

Two of my favourites

One of the earliest bulbs to appear in spring is Winter Aconite (Eranthis Hyemalis) which pokes its cheery yellow head up as early as late February, often in the same time frame as snowdrops, although it is not as common.

It is well worth searching out this bulb as it will naturalize in your garden and in time allow you to share some bulbs with your friends.

It seems that few gardens in the Okanagan are untouched by marauding deer, so homeowners are always on the lookout for plants those pesky animals tend to shun. Another great bulb for the spring garden is the Turkestan onion (Allium karatievense), a member of the onion family. That means it is ‘stinky’ to deer, although not to us, and as such it’s usually not on the menu for our four-legged friends.

The Narcissus Family

Another bulb deer tend to go by without nibbling is the narcissus family.

These can provide up to six weeks of bloom with a selection of early, mid, and late-flowering varieties, plus they are readily sourced at nurseries or big box stores.

One of the varietals that we planted recently in the OXA UnH2O Xeriscape Demonstration Garden on Gordon Drive, is the absolutely-stunning Narcissus poeticus, which is, ironically, one of the oldest daffodils to be cultivated, dating back to ancient times.

I’m enamoured with its simple shape and pure white petals, so different from the brassy yellow we usually associate with daffodils.

No matter what you decide to plant this fall, the anticipation of a colourful array of spring flowers from your fall bulb planting will help you through the dark winter days to come.

Galanthus nivalis