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Wakefield Museums and Castles
Pontefract Castle
Medieval herb garden blog 57: Snowdrop
Tuesday, February 10, 2026Week 57 volunteer update
The weather was against us again today. The soil was still very wet and sticky. Kim was able to reach far enough into the garden to tidy the fennel. Carole carried out the flower count. She also helped some children to identify plants that smelled like onions or mint.
The crocuses have started to appear on the motte under the keep. With the help of local squirrels with “bad memories”, this explains why we have the odd crocus popping up in the Medieval Herb Garden.
Plant of the week: Snowdrop (galanthus nivalis)
'Galanthus' is derived from the Greek for 'milk flower'. 'Nivalis' is Latin, meaning 'of the snow'. The word 'Snowdrop' may come from the German 'Schneetropfen' (snow-drop). These were teardrop-shaped pearl earrings, popular in the 1500s and 1600s.
In Gerard’s 'Herbal' (1597), snowdrops are called “bulbous violets”. In Tudor times, when John Gerard was writing, the plant had many Catholic names. These were given by the medieval monks who had brought the bulbs from their homelands in Italy. The names included Mary's taper, Candlemass bells, Candlemas lilies, Christ's flower, purification flower, snow-bells, white ladies, white purification, white queen and the virgin's flower.
However, in the tumultuous times of the Reformation, Gerard seems to have ignored these Catholic names. In the 1633 edition of the book, the plant name was changed to snowdrop. This was the first printed reference to the common name.
Snowdrops beginning to flower in the Medieval Herb Garden
Snowdrops are native to Europe and the Middle East. They are perennial, petaloid, hardy, herbaceous, bulbous plants. They survive the winter through their underground bulbs.
They prefer to grow in any moist but well-drained soil, of any pH, in partial shade. They grow to a height of 5 inches (13 cm) with a spread of up to 8 inches (20 cm).
The leaves are basal, emerging from the bulb. They are initially enclosed in a tubular membranous sheath (thin layer) of cataphylls. Generally, there are two (sometimes three) leaves. These are linear, strap-shaped, or oblanceolate. The arrangement of the emerging leaves varies among the 20 species of snowdrops.
The flowering stalks are erect, leafless and slightly tapering. At the top are a pair of bract-like spathes. These are usually fused down one side and joined by a papery membrane. This makes them appear monophyllous (single).
Snowdrops flower from January to March. From between the spathes emerges a single (rarely two), pendulous, nodding, bell-shaped white flower. The flower is held on a thin pedicel.
The flower bears six tepals rather than true petals. These are arranged in two whorls of three. The outer whorl is larger and more convex than the inner whorl.
The inner tepals are much shorter (half to two thirds as long). They are oblong, spathulate or oblanceolate, somewhat claw-like. They taper to the base and often have green markings.
The first snowdrop in flower beside the keep at Pontefract Castle
Culinary uses of snowdrops
You should never eat snowdrops. All parts are poisonous. They contain alkaloids, like lycorine. This causes nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Use of snowdrops as a dye plant
Snowdrops are not traditional dye plants. However, their white flowers can create pale tints.
Folklore and other facts about snowdrops
The snowdrop is thought to be the magical herb ‘moly’ mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey. This was given to Odysseus by the gods. It counteracted the ‘poison of forgetfulness’ administered by the witch Circe.
As the first sign of spring, the snowdrop is often called "Candlemas Bells". It was associated with the Feast of the Purification of the Virgin Mary on 2 February.
Snowdrops symbolized purity and the "light" returning to the earth. They were a symbol of life triumphing over death, as the flowers broke through the barren winter ground.
Monks cultivated snowdrops in monastery gardens. They are often found in churchyards and graveyards today, representing resurrection. However, because of this, other folk superstitions said picking snowdrops brought bad luck. They believed it could even put the picker at risk of death.
"Snowdrops" was the nickname given to US military police stationed in Britain during the Second World War. This was because they wore a white helmet, gloves, and gaiters. These contrasted against their olive drab uniforms.
In some versions of the fairytale Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, "Snowdrop" is used as an alternative name for Snow White.
Other old English superstitions suggest that by bringing snowdrops into the home, “the milk will turn sour and eggs shall spoil”.
Medieval medicinal uses of snowdrops*
Snowdrops were grown in abbeys as a medical plant. They were used to treat ‘Mal au Tete’, problems of the head. One of the chemicals in snowdrops is used in the management of Alzheimer’s today.
The old printed 'herbals' gave no medicinal value to snowdrops. Despite this, they were traditionally used as a folk remedy for headaches in parts of Europe.
An old glossary of 1465 refers to the snowdrop as 'Leucis i viola alba'. It classes snowdrops as useful for menstrual problems. Elsewhere, it was claimed its healing properties could help digestive and respiratory issues.
*As always, this isn't to be considered medical advice today. Please don't use any plants mentioned in these blogs as medicine without advice from a doctor.
Medieval herb garden blogs
Browse all blogs by our dedicated team of volunteer gardeners at Pontefract Castle. Discover a different 'Plant of the Week'.