Snowdrops

* Common name: Snowdrops

* Botanical name: Galanthus

* What it is: A short, winter-hardy, super-early-blooming bulb that can send up its nodding, white, bell-shaped flowers as early as end of January some years. Even a covering of snow won’t faze these.

* Size: 6 to 8 inches tall. Space bulbs 4 to 6 inches apart.

* Where to use: Like most small bulbs, these are best planted in clusters or masses of at least 25 bulbs to make a colony. Snowdrops look good skirting the base of leafless winter trees. Or mass them in border gardens or foundations beds that are filled with perennials or annuals in summer but that are bare in late winter to early spring. Also makes a nice edging plant along a walk or driveway when planted at least three or four lines deep. Sun or part shade light is fine.

* Care: Plant bulbs in October about 3 inches deep. Work granular bulb fertilizer into the loosened soil at planting, then scatter ground with the same granular bulb fertilizer each spring and early fall.

No need to cut spent foliage. It’ll flop down to the ground as spring progresses, where you can toss a light layer of mulch over it or allow the season’s new growth from surrounding plants grow over it.

Bulbs can be dug and divided in spring as foliage yellows if you want to start a new colony. Replant the bulbs right away; no need to store them until fall planting.

* Great partner: Surrounding the base of red-twig dogwoods makes a good contrast between the white flowers of snowdrops and the winter-time red stems of the dogwoods. Witch hazels are shrubs that bloom very early and sometimes overlap snowdrop bloom.