Pleated Snowdrop - Galanthus plicatus

Alternative names
Crimean Snowdrop
Description

Growing to 20 cm in height, Galanthus plicatus is larger than the common Snowdrop (G. nivalis). Its foliage is broader and characterised by the plication (folding under) of the leaf margin when young. It is this folding and the residual ‘fold lines’ on the mature leaves that give the plant its name: ‘plicatus’ which means ‘pleated’.

Similar Species

Galanthus nivalis.

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

Good quality photographs of whole plant, the flowers and the leaves are required.  An indication of size would also be helpful.

Habitat

Deciduous woodland, hedgerows, roadsides, churchyards, cemeteries and parkland.  It may also be found as an escape from garden cultivation and often close to habitation.

When to see it

Flowering around January or February but this may vary from one year to another.

Life History

A bulbous perennial herb.

UK Status

Widespread, particularly in the southern half of Britain, but not nearly as frequent as our common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis).

VC55 Status

Rarely recorded in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Pleated Snowdrop
Species group:
Wildflowers
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Asparagales
Family:
Amaryllidaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
1
First record:
14/03/2020 (Lewis, Steven)
Last record:
14/03/2020 (Lewis, Steven)

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% of records within its species group

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