Spring is on its way.

Nothing brings more joy to a gardener than early spring flowers poking up from the barren ground or through a blanket of snow and ice.

Hellebores, also called Lenten roses, are low-maintenance perennials that thrive in shade and produce long-blooming flowers often before the snow disappears.

Crocuses lead the way for early-spring bloomers, shouting “Spring is on its way!” When planted en masse, they will lure hungry honeybees to your garden area.

And, of course, there’s those lovely snowdrops.

One of the first flowers you may see is the common snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis). The appropriately-named snowdrop blooms in much of Pennsylvania in late February or March, often peeking up through a cover of snow.

Snowdrops, which are native to Europe and the Middle East, are very popular in the northern United States and have naturalized widely.

Snowdrops are also common in Great Britain, where visitors can take special tours to see the naturalized flowers form impressive carpets of white blooms. There are snowdrop festivals in Scotland. Even Downingtown, Chester County, has the annual “Galanthus Gala.”

A member of the Amaryllis family, snowdrops comprise a small genus (Galanthus) with about 20 species. The common snowdrop grows only three to six inches tall, with linear leaves.

The plants have a single small drooping bell-shaped flower with six white petal-like sepals arranged in two circles. The inner sepals are sometimes marked with green. The giant snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) looks very similar, merely larger, growing from 14- to 16-inches-tall.

Snowdrops prefer part shade to full sun, and benefit from a rich humus soil with good drainage. However, they will tolerate a variety of soils.

Plant snowdrop bulbs in the fall about two- to three-inches deep. Snowdrops need a cold period, known as stratification, in order to bloom. Temperatures need to go below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, so you won’t see this plant growing in southern gardens, and you won’t see them in the very far north, as they will not survive temperatures below minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit.

Snowdrops provide charm and a promise of spring in woodland settings and rock gardens. They may be planted under deciduous trees, as they will bloom and die back before the tree leafs out. Prettily planted in drifts of up to 25 bulbs, they will spread over time. To speed up propagation, you can carefully dig and divide them soon after they are done blooming.

Snowdrops have no serious insect or disease problems and are deer-resistant.

However, there is a caution for pets and children. The plants are poisonous if ingested. Some gardeners also report skin irritation, so gloves are recommended when handling snowdrops.

So, plant snowdrops and look forward to seeing these beauties early every year. They are such a joy to see after a long, gray winter.

“Growing Green” is contributed by Diane Dorn, Lehigh County Extension Office Staff, and Master Gardeners. Information: Lehigh County Extension Office, 610-391-9840; Northampton County Extension Office, 610-813-6613.