The genus Galanthus is comprised of dozens of species and cultivars of perennial bulbs that herald the arrival of spring. Most are small and unassuming, but make an impact in the garden because they bloom before almost everything else in the garden in late winter to ealy spring, sometimes through snow, hence the common name. The flowers are generally nodding and white with green accents. Plants grow from 4 to 9 inches tall with strappy green leaves that disappear a few weeks after flowering. Differences between the various species and cultivars are subtle, but again, notable, since there is little to compare them with at bloom time.