Galanthus plicatus, commonly known as Pleated Snowdrop, is a deciduous bulbous plant native to woodland margins, alpine meadows, and scrubby areas in the Black Sea region, including Bulgaria, northern Turkey, and the western Caucasus. It is a spring-flowering herbaceous perennial that reaches approximately 15 cm (5.9 in) in height. The species is characterized by its distinctive pleated leaves and nodding white flowers, which emerge in very early spring, often while snow is still on the ground. The flowers are bell-shaped, with three outer tepals that are pure white and three inner tepals marked with green at the tips. Pleated Snowdrop is one of the earliest blooming plants, heralding the end of winter.

Galanthus plicatus is valued for its early bloom time, providing a welcome splash of color in late winter to early spring gardens. It has received the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit, indicating its exceptional performance in gardens. Cultivars like ’Three Ships’ and ’Wendy’s Gold’ offer variations in bloom time and tepal coloration, with ’Wendy’s Gold’ featuring a yellow ovary and yellow markings. Ideal for naturalizing in woodland gardens, rock gardens, and borders, it thrives under deciduous trees and shrubs. It prefers full sun to part shade, consistent moisture during the growing season, and well-drained soil. After flowering, the foliage should be allowed to die back naturally to provide energy for the next season’s blooms. While generally low-maintenance, it can be susceptible to bulb rots if kept too wet.CC BY-SA 4.0