Debrecen4U February 12, 2026

Early Flowers Open at the Debrecen Botanical Garden

As a result of the significant warming in late January and early February, snowdrops and winter aconites have begun to bloom at the Botanical Garden of the University of Debrecen. The small white and yellow flowers are blooming in several parts of the park. If there is no drastic change in the weather, visitors will be able to admire these lovely little plants for another two weeks.

Snowdrops usually appear at the end of winter, when the soil is no longer frozen but most plants are still dormant. At the Botanical Garden of the University of Debrecen, not only the native and protected common snowdrop of Hungary is flowering these days, but also the larger giant snowdrop, often planted in gardens, as well as the less common snowdrop with glossy, bright green, broad leaves. Pleated snowdrops also occur there but have not yet been seen this year.

“These plants lie in wait beneath the leaf litter until a milder period occurs with daytime temperatures around 10 degrees Celsius, and then they burst into bloom with very rapid development. The mild weather is drawing out more and more flowers,” Director Attila Takács said.

He added that, unfortunately, the habitats of the protected common snowdrop have declined nationwide over recent decades, but fortunately the species is not threatened with extinction. It still has larger natural populations in fresh, open woodlands, in hilly and mountainous regions, as well as in certain parts of the Great Plain. At the university’s Botanical Garden, several thousand specimens of the four snowdrop species grow scattered throughout the area.

While a few decades ago snowdrops would begin blooming almost like clockwork at the end of winter, nowadays this often starts in the middle of winter due to climate change.

“Originally native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe, the winter aconite was probably introduced to Hungary in the 17th to 18th centuries in aristocrats’ parks and monastery gardens, from where it spread into the wild. It has been protected in Hungary since 1982. Several thousand specimens of it can also be found at the Botanical Garden. Their flowering began earlier than that of the snowdrops this year; the first blooms were already visible at the end of January,” said Attila Takács.

The director emphasized that if the weather remains as mild as it is now, these small flowers can likely be admired there until the end of February or the beginning of March. The plants are at their most beautiful in sunny weather, when their flowers open fully.

Source and photo credit: dehir.hu