When they are in bloom, both the snowdrop and the lily of the valley present themselves at their most beautiful. But if you haven't looked into them yet, you might find it difficult to tell them apart.
What are the differences between snowdrops and lilies of the valley?
Snowdrops and lilies of the valley differ in flowering time, leaf shape, number of flowers and fruits: Snowdrops bloom from January to March, have narrower leaves, a single teardrop-shaped flower and inconspicuous capsule fruits. Lily of the valley blooms from May to June, has broad, lanceolate leaves, 5 to 13 bell-shaped flowers and bright red berries.
Differences between leaves and flowers
The snowdrop has narrower leaves. They are medium to dark green, smooth-edged and pointed. They emerge from the ground in spring between January and February. The leaves of the lily of the valley do not appear until April. They are broadly lanceolate in shape, tapered towards the top and are reminiscent of the leaves of wild garlic.
If you compare the flowers of both plants, you will see many differences. The snowdrop only has one flower. This is teardrop-shaped, white on the outside and greenish on the inside. The lily of the valley has 5 to 13 flowers that grow together in a long-stemmed cluster. The bell-shaped and pure white flowers appear between May and June, whereas the snowdrop flowers appear between January and March.
Differences of fruits
The fruits of snowdrops and lilies of the valley also differ greatly. After flowering, the snowdrop develops a capsule fruit between March and April. This is inconspicuous, brownish in color and contains many seeds inside. The fruits of lily of the valley are bright red, spherical and berry-like. They usually ripen in August.
Visually indiscernible differences
| Snowdrops | Lily of the valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Botanical name | Galanthus nivalis | Convallaria majalis ? |
| Plant family | Amaryllis family | Asparagus family |
| Flowering time | January to February | May to June |
| Main toxins | Alkaloids | Glycosides |
| Fragrance | slightly scented | strongly scented |
| underground | Nods | Rhizomes |
Similarities of both plants
Snowdrops and lilies of the valley have the following similarities:
- perennial spring tubers
- fragrant
- poisonous to humans and animals (lily of the valley is more poisonous)
- prefer to grow in partial shade to shade
- come from Europe
- have white flowers
- have two to three leaves per plant
- Growth height between 15 and 30 cm
Tips & Tricks
In the wild you cannot confuse the snowdrop with the lily of the valley. Both appear at different times. When the lily of the valley sprouts, the snowdrop has already retreated.