雪花莲属是天门冬目，石蒜科的一个属，约有20种。本属植物是春天最早开花的球根花卉。

雪花莲属具有鳞茎。叶线形。花茎直立，在花茎顶端着生有一朵花，花下垂，钟形；花白色，花瓣六片，花瓣分为内外两层，内层与外层各有三片花瓣，外层的花瓣比内层的花瓣较长且较凸起。花药六枚，花药孔裂或短纵裂。子房三室，果实为蒴果。

Galanthus (snowdrop; Greek gála "milk", ánthos "flower") is a small genus of about 20 species of bulbous perennial herbaceous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae. Most flower in winter, before the vernal equinox (20 or 21 March in the Northern Hemisphere), but certain species flower in early spring and late autumn.