Common Name: Snowdrop

General Information

Galanthus nivalis is a perennial plant growing from a globose bulb around 15 - 22mm in diameter; it forms a clump of grass-like leaves and a flowering stem up to 20cm tall. The plant spreads by seeds and division of the bulbs to form colonies[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. This is one of several species that have been cultivated on a commercial scale for the extraction of the alkaloid 'galantamine', a substance used medicinally in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and also to treat several other conditions[]. The plant is also very widely grown as an ornamental, valued especially for its winter flowers - there are many named varieties[].

Known Hazards

The bulb is somewhat poisonous[, ]. It contains phenanthridine alkaloids which can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea if ingested, though toxicity is usually only low[].

Botanical References

,

Range

Europe - Germany to Spain, east to Belarus, Ukraine and the Balkans

Habitat

Shady pastures, woods and orchards, usually on damp soils[, , ]. Probably native in Wales and W. England, but naturalized in other parts of Britain[]. Scrub-covered hillsides, light woodland; at elevations up to 600 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Habit	Bulb
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Galanthus nivalis is a moderately hardy plant, the buld able to withstand temperatures down to at least -15°c[].
Prefers a position in cool, dappled shade in a moist but well-drained, humus-rich soil that does not become excessively dry in the summer[, , ]. Prefers a moist heavy loam[], growing well in grass or amongst shrubs[].
A mulch of leafmould, applied after the plants die down in spring, is beneficial[].
A very ornamental plant[], it grows well on the woodland edge[].
The bulbs should be planted about 5 - 7cm deep as early in the spring as possible[].
A good bee plant, providing an early source of pollen and nectar[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The bulb and the flowers are a source of the alkaloid 'galantamine', which is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Galantamine has been shown to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and to alleviate many of its symptoms. The alkaloid has also been shown to encourage lucid dreaming and to also be of use in the treatment of a number of other conditions including poliomyelitis[].

The plant is emmenagogue[].

The plant is sometimes used in homoeopathy[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[]. Sow the seed thinly so that there is no need to thin them. The seed usually germinates in the spring[]. Grow them on in the same pot in a cold frame for the first two years, giving an occasional liquid feed to ensure the plants do not become nutrient deficient. Pot up the small bulbs whilst they are still in leaf in early summer of their second year's growth, putting about 3 bulbs in each pot. Grow them on in the cold frame for a further year before planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring whilst they are still in growth. The plants take about 4 years to flower from seed[].
Division of offsets[, ]. This is best done immediately after the plants have finished flowering (and still have green leaves) though it can also be done in late summer and early autumn when the plants are dormant[].
Scooping.