Elegant flowers dressed in simple white and green, snowdrops look too fragile to cope with wintry weather. They are however very resilient and are treasured by gardeners for their ability to flower early in the horticultural year. Snowdrops have played an important role in gardens and popular culture alike, as a treasured genus for enthusiast growers and a symbol of hope and consolation. The gentle beauty of the snowdrop has attracted the attention of poets and artists for centuries. They are commonly found in flower paintings from the sixteenth century onwards and frequently appear in poetry and prose. In Victorian Britain 'snowdrop bands' encouraged chastity among young women; today snowdrops are used as the symbol of several charities. Medicinally they are a source of galantamine, used in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Today snowdrops are more popular than ever before, and individual bulbs continue to reach record-breaking sums. Snowdrop is an ideal companion for any plant-lover who has ever eagerly awaited this treasured sign of spring.