Glossary
Chionophilous plants
Chionophilous – meaning “snow-loving” – is the technical term for plants that have adapted to cold, snowy habitats and can even flower under snow. Typical chionophilous species include snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis), winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and Christmas rose (Helleborus niger).
These plants use winter as a survival strategy – their flowers are frost-resistant, covered with a waxy outer layer or downward-hanging to protect their sensitive parts from the cold. This enables them to flower at a time when other plants are still dormant.
