Falling prey to Galanthus –
the sensational snowdrop
At this sun-starved, flower-hungry time of year we gardeners
fall prey to a chronic disease.
‘Snowdrops in the Green’
It’s called ‘galanthophilia’, and it’s very contagious. It causes
Snowdrops dislike being dried out while they are dormant so it’s wise
the sufferer to get down on bended knees before that pure
to divide or buy them ‘in the green’ from specialist bulb nurseries.
innocent, the snowdrop (Galanthus); the better to admire its
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exquisite refinements. s4EASETHEMAPARTINTOSMALLERCLUMPSOFLARGEANDSMALLBULBS
Our winter gardens may well be a triumph of green structure
s#UTOFFTHESEEDPODSANDREPLANTTHEMATTHESAMEDEPTHINSOIL
and elegantly shaped trees but by February we need a dose
that has been improved with leaf-mould or garden compost.
of flower-power. So it’s no wonder that when the first s7ATERTHEMINWELLTOSETTLETHESOILAROUNDTHEBULBS
snowdrops pierce the bare black soil and reveal their white
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porcelain flowers our hearts lurch.
Snowdrops were introduced here later than you might think,
green-flushed flowers, but that
during the 16th and 17th centuries from Southern Europe, Italy
seems only to aggravate the
in particular. They settled quickly in the moist, draining, leafy
addiction.
soils of our deciduous woodland, where they emerge, flower,
and set seed before the leaf canopy closes in late spring.
Galanthus plicatus is taller
(30cm/1ft) and originates in
Now there are a surprising number of different species and named
western Russia and the Crimea.
forms in our gardens that have captivated ‘galanthophiles’ for at
It’s believed that the variety
least a century. The Common Snowdrop, Galanthus nivalis, has
G. plicatus ‘Warham’ was
small, slender greyish-green leaves and a green blotch on each
brought back by a soldier from
inner petal, or segment. It’s the shape and shade of this blotch
that terrible war: a symbol of
that seems to bring out galanthophilia in some; and the shade
Look out for lovely hybrids such
of green, or even yellow that arouses passion in others. Perhaps
as G. ‘Cordelia’
hope and renewal. Galanthus
byzantinus is a closely related
one of the most famous is G. nivalis ‘Sam Arnott’, the Provost of
sub-species with a similar leaf structure but originates in
Dumfries in the 19th century. This fine form has short outer petals
northern Turkey. It bears more globular flowers with green
that show off the deeply green-marked central segments. Some
shading at the base and a well-defined blotch on each
of the double forms are very desirable too: G. nivalis ‘Walrus’ is a
segment.
splendidly named variety whose elongated, green-tipped outer
petals curl under like a handlebar moustache. And G. nivalis
The species G. elwesii is associated with a Victorian galanthophile,
‘Lady Elphinstone’ is an enchanting double form with pale yellow
H J Elwes and originates in the Eastern Mediterranean. It boasts
markings on all its inner segments lit up by golden stamens.
especially shapely blotches such as the well-defined ‘heart’ on G.
Sometimes her ladyship can be quite temperamental and produce
elwesii ‘J Haydn’, and the dark green marking like an inverted vase
on the segments of G. elwesii ‘Zwanenburg’.
Although all these species originate in separate parts of Europe
and western Asia, they have been so long cultivated in our
gardens that they have crossed and produced some lovely
hybrids. G. ‘Cordelia’ is an exceptional double with dark green
markings on slightly concave segments and butterfly-winged
petals. The old ‘Greatorex Double’ form has full, fat, cup-
shaped flowers with lightly streaked outer petals. A relative
newcomer, G. ‘White Dreams’, is its antithesis. It has classic
white flowers with just the whisper of green on the edge of
If you are looking for a snowdrop that has that extra impact, then Galanthus
the segments. Breathtaking! So beware. Galanthophilia
elwesii is worth looking out for. can overtake the sanest of gardeners.
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