Delicate and elegant with its small pure white bell-shaped flowers, the snowdrop (Galanthus) is also remarkably hardy. As the first flower of the year, it's not uncommon to see snowdrops peeking through the snow from January to March. Afterwards, they disappear only to return the following year. Creating a beautiful effect in lawns or woodland areas, snowdrop clumps can also thrive in partial shade in rockeries or flower beds alongside other bulbous plants like spring crocuses and early-blooming hellebores. However, after a few years, snowdrops may become exhausted, with crowded stems and fewer flowers. This is why propagation is essential to maintain beautiful blooms. Follow all our advice for propagating snowdrops.
When to propagate snowdrops?
Snowdrop propagation takes place after flowering, typically in February. While it's possible to propagate while the foliage is still green, it's preferable to wait until the leaves have yellowed and dried. Why? Simply because this foliage allows the bulbs to build up reserves for the next season through photosynthesis.
Propagating snowdrops by dividing clumps
Division is the simplest and most effective propagation method. It involves separating snowdrop clumps that have become too dense over the seasons, as this density can weaken flowering. Every 3 to 4 years, it's necessary to divide snowdrops.
When snowdrop clumps become too dense, flowering loses its beauty
For this rejuvenation process, use a garden fork.
- Insert the fork around the perimeter of the snowdrop clump.
- Lever the clump carefully to avoid damaging bulbs and bulbils with the fork's tines.
- Remove the clump and shake off excess soil. Use secateurs to trim away dead or dried leaves.
- Separate the clump into smaller sections and hand-pick the small bulbils. Keep some bulbils for cultivation and only replant the largest bulbs.
- Replant snowdrops immediately in prepared soil, possibly enriched with well-rotted compost. Snowdrop bulbs dislike being out of soil for long as they dry out. Ideally, replant on the same day.
- Plant bulbs 5cm deep, covering the white part of the leaves with soil. Spacing them about 10cm apart will create a beautiful snowdrop carpet.
- Firm the soil and water thoroughly.
The leaves will disappear during their dormant period, but by February, the snowdrops will bloom again.
Propagating by cultivating bulbils
When dividing snowdrop clumps, you'll have set aside bulbils. These small bulbs attached to the mother plant can be cultivated.
- Use a tray or plug tray filled with a light mix of two-thirds garden soil and one-third sand.
- Make holes with your finger and insert bulbils, pointed end up.
- Firm the soil and water.
- Keep containers in a nursery until autumn when they can be planted out.
Propagation by seed
This is the most unpredictable method, mainly suitable for Galanthus nivalis. Other snowdrop varieties and cultivars are difficult or impossible to propagate by seed.
In the wild, Galanthus nivalis self-seeds naturally with help from insects. Growing from seed requires patience and care.
Harvest seeds when capsules turn yellow.
Galanthus nivalis seeds are contained in yellow capsules
Handle gently! Sow in plug trays with very light seed compost. Keep trays in a protected spot (5-12°C), bright in winter and shaded in summer. Keep moist. After one year, transplant during dormancy and keep sheltered for another year.
The following autumn, bulbs can be planted out.
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