They actually push up through the snow and their nodding, dainty white bells never fail to open in February. In warmer climates, they can even flower as early as January!
Crocuses are a staple in every winter garden, and snow crocuses, in particular, are very early-blooming varieties that produce petite flowers with a longer blooming period than giant crocuses.
Honey-scented winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) usually appears in late February to early March, but can bloom as early as January in milder winter climates. The cheerful yellow cup-shaped flowers poke their heads up before the leaves.
Striped squill (Puschkinia scilloides) fills the gap in March between the fading of the snowdrops and the blooming of glory of the snow. Its whitish to pale blue petals are streaked with deep blue stripes, giving it its common name.
Another winter lover, glory of the snow (Chionodoxa) will turn a white landscape into a vivid tapestry of blue. The star-shaped flowers are one of the earliest blooms of the season, and they’re undaunted by snow in March.