# snow queen (*Veronica regina-nivalis*)

The Snow Queen is a beautiful flower that blooms in snowy places. Its delicate petals look like little snowflakes, making it a special sight in wintertime.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Mountain regions

![snow queen](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Synthyris_reniformis_4979.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Walter Siegmund (talk), CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Synthyris_reniformis_4979.JPG)

## Appearance

The snow queen is a low-growing plant forming dense mats of small, deep green leaves. Its delicate, star-shaped flowers are pure white, sometimes with a faint blue blush, clustered at the tips of short stems, making it visually distinct against rocky terrain.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Lamiales
- **Family:** Plantaginaceae
- **Genus:** Synthyris

## Interesting facts

- It often grows so close to the ground it feels like a soft white carpet!
- Its scientific name, 'regina-nivalis', literally means 'queen of the snow'!
- This tiny plant can brave chilly mountain winds and still bloom beautifully!
- Tiny insects love to visit its flowers, making them sparkle with life!

## Special abilities

- **Frost Shield:** Snow queen can grow in dense, low mats that help it shelter from harsh mountain winds and cold temperatures, protecting its delicate flowers.
- **Speedy Bloom:** Snow queen has a fast blooming cycle that helps it burst into flower quickly during the short growing season in alpine environments.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-15 cm
- **Spread:** 10-25 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late spring to early summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Buff-tailed bumblebee (*Bombus terrestris*) — collects nectar and pollen
- **Eaten by:** [Chamois](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chamois) (*Rupicapra rupicapra*) — grazes on mountain vegetation
- **Pollinates:** Northern brown argus (*Aricia artaxerxes*) — butterfly sips nectar from flowers

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Cold Hardy](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cold-hardy): Cold hardy plants are able to withstand low temperatures and freezing conditions without significant damage.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Mountain](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/mountain): This habitat trait identifies species found in mountainous regions, characterized by high elevation, steep slopes, and varying climate zones.
- [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick flowers without asking an adult first.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify snow queen?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is snow queen?

5-15 cm

### How wide does snow queen spread?

10-25 cm

### How big are the flowers on snow queen?

0.5-1 cm

### When does snow queen bloom?

Late spring to early summer

### Is snow queen edible?

No

### Is snow queen toxic?

None

### What is snow queen's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Fort Hoskins](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-hoskins) — Oregon, US · Park
- [Ike Kinswa State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ike-kinswa-state-park) — Washington, US · State Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Snow Queen: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snow-queen)