Flowered March cups and snowdrops look incredibly similar. At least to an untrained eye. In fact, the two types of flowers share some characteristics. The difference lies in the fine details. We can tell you what they are.
What is the difference between March cups and snowdrops?
Märzenbecher differ from snowdrops by their six petals of equal length with yellow or green dots on the tips, while snowdrops have three inner short and three outer longer petals, usually without any pattern and at most with green spots on the inner leaves.
Flowers, the most distinctive feature
Snowdrop is the better known of the two plants. There will hardly be anyone who doesn't have his image in his mind's eye. Even children are amazed by his delicate appearance. This may also be because it bravely braves the cold snow. At its peak, there was hardly any serious competition. Its white bell-shaped flowers are one of the most beautiful things you can see in nature so early in the year.
Stop! There is also the Märzenbecher. It also produces small bell-shaped flowers. Admittedly one or two per stem, while the snowdrop leaves it to a single specimen. But its bells are just as brightly white as the snowdrop. If you want to see the differences, you actually have to look a second time and then a little more closely.
The subtle differences
Nature never creates copies! This is how she has given these two early bloomers a unique look. This is how the two white bell flowers differ:
- March cups have six petals of equal length
- There is a dot on each leaf tip
- the dots are yellow or green and therefore clearly visible
- Snowdrops have three inner short petals
- and three outer longer petals
- mostly they are plain white, without any pattern
- at most the inner leaves may have green spots
Note:The wild species of both plants are protected. Picking or digging up is prohibited and violations will be punished.
Other differences
While the Märzenbecher, which comes from the floodplain forests, prefers shady and moist places, the early-blooming snowdrop also gets along well with dry soil and sun. There are also different varieties of snowdrops that bloom at different times.
The snowdrop is one of the breeders' favorites, while the Märzenbecher has remained largely original. Its flowering period is therefore still exclusively between February and April.
What else makes them different
The small differences in the appearance of the flowers as well as different location tolerances should not obscure the fact that both species have a lot in common. Both are onion plants from the amaryllis family.
Another commonality everyone should know about can save lives. The point is that both plants are poisonous in all parts.
