Spring snowflake

About

Spring snowflake is primarily a mountain species of Central Europe. In Ukraine, its continuous range covers the south of Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions, the east of Chernivtsi region, and most of Transcarpathia. In the plains of Podillia, it occurs as a glacial relict that once descended from the Carpathians. It grows in moist deciduous forests, especially beech and alder forests, on forest edges, wet meadows, and along stream banks. Local names include rastyk, tsybulka, klykocey, kozi borodka.

This perennial bulbous plant reaches a height of 12–35 cm, an ephemeral: all its above-ground parts appear and die back in spring when there is still plenty of light in the forest. The leaves are broad-linear and bright green. The flower stalk usually bears one, rarely two drooping flowers with six identical white tepals 15–25 mm long, each with a greenish or yellowish spot at the tip. It blooms as one of the first in March and continues to bloom into April.

The spring snowflake can be easily distinguished from the snowdrop: the snowdrop has three large outer petals and three small inner ones with a green spot, while in the spring snowflake all six are identical, resembling a bell. All species of snowflake are poisonous: they contain the alkaloids lycorine and galantamine.

Spring snowflake is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (status 'not evaluated'). It is prohibited to pick, dig up, or sell it. In some places, it forms entire meadows in early spring—enjoy and photograph them while stepping carefully to avoid trampling the plants.

Where in the Carpathians

The map shows where naturalists recorded the species (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records), not every place it lives. The Ukrainian Carpathians are less studied, so a blank area does not mean the species is absent.

Countries

Ukraine · Romania · Slovakia · Poland · Czechia · Hungary

Mountain ranges

Maramureș Mountains, Bieszczady, Borzhava, Gorgany, Vihorlat-Gutin Volcanic Ridge, Rivna Polonyna, Krasna Polonyna, Chornohora, Bihor-Vlădeasa Mountains, Skole Beskids

Altitude belts

Foothills (below 600 m) · Beech forests (600–1200 m)

When to see it

From naturalists’ observations in the Carpathians (iNaturalist, research grade): the darker the cell, the more often the species is seen that month.

Safety

The plant is poisonous (lycorine, galantamine): do not dig up bulbs or taste any parts.

Look-alikes — how to tell them apart

Protection and rules

Listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (not evaluated). It is prohibited to pick, dig up, or sell it. In Poland, it is under partial protection.

Admire, don’t pick: plants listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine — and any plants in nature reserves and strictly protected zones of national parks — must not be collected.

Red Data Book of Ukraine

FAQ