7 Lovely Ideas for Pairing Snowdrops

In a white garden

Pure whiteness, punctuated only by yellow-green maculate speckles along the edge of the bells, makes Leucojum vernum a candidate for a white monochrome garden! white monochrome garden !

First, to highlight Leucojum vernum flowering between February and March, surround it with companion flowering plants at the same time. Pair it with Camellia ‘Nobilissima’, a winter heath (Erica Darleyensis), white or green-flowered hellebores for a subtle colour, but also early hyacinths, white Anemone blanda ‘White Splendour’, Crocus tommasinianus ‘Albus’… Do not forget a few more substantial shrubs such as Chimonanthus praecox or a paperbush, or a Prunus that will cap the winter flowering display.

Leucojum vernum, Prunus cerasifera, Erica darleyensis, Helleborus argutifolius and Chimonanthus praecox

Le Leucojum aestivum, a little larger, will harmonise wonderfully with other pretty white and green flowering displays, flowering later or longer, and some evergreen leaves variegated with cream. Here is a scene in April in which the brightness of the summer snowflake is paired with the freshness of late tulips and Narcissus ‘Thalia’, a white azalea Mollis (‘Persil’) or a dwarf Rhododendron such as Rhododendron ‘Fragrantissimum’. A Fatsia ‘Spider Web’ unifies the flowering of its leaves, which are mottled with white. We could also invite some double hyacinths ‘Madame Sophie’ and white Maltese Cross.

Leucojum aestivum, Tulips, Narcissus ‘Thalia’, Fatsia japonica ‘Spider Web’ and white azalea

In an understorey.

As long as the sought-after understorey is bright enough, thanks to the deciduous foliage not yet leafing out, the spring snowflake will find this environment highly conducive to thriving, all the more so as it will self-seed spontaneously as time goes by, naturalising perfectly. It is, in fact, its natural habitat.

Plant it in mass, in clumps, at least three, and surround it with lungworts, whose pretty spotted foliage will remain attractive for many months after a radiant bloom, pink or blue-tinged, of a few primroses, Corydalis and a carpet of Epimedium, this impressive groundcover for partial shade. Wood hyacinths and a few ferns such as an Athyrium niponicum ‘Red Beauty’ will also be at home in this arrangement that can almost look natural!

Leucojum vernum, Athyrium niponicum ‘Red Beauty’, Pulmonaria saccharata ‘Silverado’, Corydalis ‘Purple Bird’, Epimedium pubigerum, and Primula japonica ‘Apple Blossom’.

In a pretty container planting to welcome spring.

Here again, there are many possible combinations with spring snowflakes, and we can play with both spring snowflakes for a truly extended flowering.
Depending on the size of your pot, you could plant, for example a trio of spring snowflakes and crocuses (here the Crocus vernus Pickwick’, nicely striped), and a shaggy Farfugium for texture, or a beautiful heather with pink-dominated, long-flowering bloom to add a little volume.

Leucojum vernum, Erica carnea et Crocus vernus ‘Pickwick’

You could also create a lovely planter by playing with a gradient of white and yellow with just a few spring snowflakes, mixed with white or yellow tulip bulbs, which will rise above them like the Fosteriana tulips ‘Concerto’, and for a large pot a splash of pale yellow daffodils:

Leucojum vernum, Narcissi and Tulips ‘Concerto’

Along the edge of a pond or in a cool rockery.

Planted near a body of water, a small stream, or in a cool rock garden, the snowflake is very much at home, as it loves moist, cool soils. You can choose between the spring-flowering or summer-flowering snowflake, and create a ravishing bucolic scene to your heart’s content.

In our example, we pair it with other plants suited to a moist medium with similar needs, in soft tones: the Leucojum aestivum, always grown in clumps for a more natural look, the Camassia for the cool blue that will bloom at the same time, some Astilbes in pale pink or peach that provide a mossy texture, and perennials with handsome foliage thriving along the water’s edge such as Farfugium (here with variegated foliage) or Darmera peltata or even Gunnera if you have enough space for the scale they will reach. The guinea-fowl fritillaries will add the more pronounced purplish touch, also perfect in this kind of cool soil.

Leucojum aestivum, Farfugium ‘Argenteum’ (© Cultivar 413) , Astilbe arendsii ‘Erika’, guinea-fowl fritillary and Camassia

In a cottage-style border.

Leucojum plants naturally blend into pastoral scenes or countryside gardens, where naturalness is the aim. And naturalness doesn’t preclude individuality! To create a border with bucolic charm, rely on simple plants and a few botanical species. We can incorporate colours that are varied yet always delicate, ranging from white, apricot, pink and blue, and even yellow.

Here we pair summer and spring snowflakes with pastel flowering: a Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’, Spanish hyacinths with a wild look, a poetic narcissi for their magic. Des Dodecatheon will pair well with the whole and will flower from April through May. A few tulips will always hit the mark, whether white or pink, or even orange if you opt for a more vibrant mood. Here, it is the elegant tulips ‘Maureen’ that complete this spring display.

Leucojum aestivum, Magnolia stellata ‘Rosea’ Dodecatheon pulchellum, late tulips ‘Maureen’, Spanish hyacinths and Narcissus poeticus