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Snowdrops can
be
purchased by Mail Order or Collection (either from the nursery or from
a Spring Flower Show). PLEASE SEND PAYMENT WITH
YOUR ORDER & CLEARLY PRINT ALL DETAILS. That is, your name
& address & the order you wish to purchase. Cheques or
Postal Orders should be made payable to ‘FOXGROVE
PLANTS’. Please indicate whether a substitution can be made
for an item or items which may no longer be available. If substitutions
are not required please make this obvious by ticking the box. Due to
one or two problems concerning Mail Order cheques in the past the Order
will be placed into our records and the payment will be paid into our
bank. A refund cheque will be enclosed with an order if it cannot be
fully completed.
NOTE: The prices given are per bulb, unless stated otherwise. The
special price for a multiple order only applies to Mail Order or
previously placed orders for collection. These are marked with an
asterisk (*)In addition where ‘LIMITED ‘ follows an
item, the stock of this is very limited and will be only in very small
quantities.
MAIL ORDER –
FOR UK MAIL ORDER ONLY
Please send your payment with the order. We can not accept an order
without some form of payment. PLEASE NOTE: in addition to the cost of
the bulbs we make a charge which goes towards the cost of packaging
& posting of each order. Since August 2006 the cost for Posting
is now governed by size of parcel ( its length &
width ) as well as the weight. Therefore, parcels may be relatively
light, but will be too thick for the less expensive size categories and
unfortunately our charge has to be increased in line with this. POSTAGE
& PACKAGING CHARGE ON AN ORDER IS £5.00 WITHIN THE
U.K., for large orders the charge will be £7.00 for an order
of 100 bulbs or more. PLEASE NOTE : We do not accept payment by CREDIT
CARD.
FOR ORDERS OUTSIDE THE UK
Please send a clearly printed order form or letter. Then we shall
return a written confirmation of the order the customer will receive,
i.e. The value of the goods and then the charge for postage and
packaging. On a normal NON. UK. ORDER the postage & packaging
charge will remain at £6.00, however if the value of the
goods is above £99.00 then the order will be sent by
‘International Datapost’and the basic cost to us
for a 200g small parcel will be from £31.00. This service is
a next day guarantee. We do not accept payment made in either EURO
– CHEQUES or EURO’S. Payment for NON UK ORDERS is
required in UK Sterling only.
COLLECTED ORDERS -
Snowdrops can be collected from the nursery if a prior order has been
received by us. In this case please check our opening times. In
addition, orders can be collected from the early Royal Horticultural
Society Shows held in London. 16 & 17
February and 6 & 7 April . A similar arrangement can
be made for Alpine Garden Society Shows- 6 February
& 6 March Burleigh Community College, LOUGHBOROUGH,
Leicestershire and 27 February Mark Hall School, HARLOW, Essex.
NOTE: CARE OF SNOWDROPS
On receipt of your Snowdrops, whether collected or posted, keep in a
cool place until you are ready to plant them. It is essential to
loosen the packaging. If you are at all concerned about how you find
your Snowdrop Order please get in touch at this stage.
Sometimes parcels can be delayed in the post and Snowdrops are a
delicate item to have been sitting in a post office warehouse.
Planting should be done as soon as possible. Temporarily they can be
put into a pot, but snowdrops prefer to be grown in the ground. It is
best to plant without delay.
TERMS
Best quality, flowering size bulbs are offered for sale. All Snowdrops
will be sold ‘IN THE GREEN’, from late January
until early April. Snowdrops are usually sold in flower, obviously
orders received late in the season will not have fresh flowers. Bulbs
are lifted according to the weather conditions. These have been
cultivated from healthy garden and nursery stock and are not collected
from a wild source. Bulbs are cultivated in the open-ground, not pot
grown and are lifted fresh prior to sale. Once the bulbs are received,
in good condition, we cannot be responsible for their later cultivation.
Orders are dealt with in strict rotation and posted FIRST CLASS MAIL at
the beginning of each week in an attempt to avoid postal delays. We
offer a considerable number of Snowdrops both specie & cultivar
which are correctly identified as far as it is possible.
The following list of snowdrops will hopefully be of interest to both
existing and new customers. The inclusion of rare plants may mean that
it will not always be possible to fulfill all orders as stock takes a
number of seasons to reach sufficient numbers to have enough to be in a
position to sell. Propagation of Snowdrops is long term, taking several
seasons to reach a certain number.
This list cancels all previous lists.
GALANTHUS
CULTIVARS
SINGLE FLOWERING GALANTHUS CULTIVAR
GAL. ‘ARMINE’
One of the four snowdrops selected by the Brigadier and Mrs. Matthias
of Hyde lodge. A tall elegant plant with top and bottom inner mark.
£10.00
GAL. ‘ATKINSII’
This is the best choice for anyone wishing to grow a GIANT SNOWDROP, it
has a tall & slender appearance and stands inches above its
relative G. nivalis. This cultivar is one of the first to flower and
can be relied upon to increase readily and soon give a super display.
£2.00
price for 3
bulbs…£5.00
GAL. ‘BENHALL BEAUTY’
An older cultivar from the garden of John Gray in
Saxmundham, Suffolk. One of the taller Snowdrop cultivar.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER
ORDER)
£10.00
GALANTHUS ‘BERTRAM ANDERSON’
Fairly early flowering and one of the big rounded cultivars, It is
quite spectacular when seen in a well established group.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£12.00
GAL. ‘CURLY’
A small, but beautiful Snowdrop.The name refers to the strong bend in
the plants narrow leaves. £8.00
GAL. ‘GALATEA’
From Mr. James Allen’s garden in Shepton Mallet. A tall
Snowdrop it’s flowers sway on a long pedicel (similar to G.
‘Magnet’,) but the ovary hangs at a 90’
angle & it is much earlier to flower. A distinctly GIANT
cultivar, which will give a pleasing display at the beginning of the
season. £5.00
GAL. ‘GREENFIELD’
A Snowdrop of Irish descent. The inner marking is quite broad and the
ovary of a paler green and with an elongated appearance.
£6.00
GAL.’GREEN NECKLACE’
Originally found growing in a Cotswolds garden in the 70’s
and considered worthy of a name. The ‘necklace’
being on the inner segment. It is a cultivar which grows happily and
increases well. £6.00
GAL. ‘KETTON’
A cultivar which is worthy of being considered
‘Superb’ - Certainly a sizeable Snowdrop,
well proportioned, not found to be a ‘miffy’ grower
and identifiable. The bottom mark is very flat and there is a tell tale
double smudge under the
ovary.
£7.00
GAL. ‘LIMETREE’
A seedling supposedly seen growing beneath a lime tree at Maidwell Hall
by Mr.Oliver Wyatt. Of similar appearance to G.
‘Atkinsii’, flowers earlier.
£3.00
GAL. ‘MAGNET’
Was raised by James Allen, its long and very fine pedicel allow the
flowers to move gently in the slightest breeze. A characteristic making
it identifiable at a distance. This cultivar is a good plant to start a
collection. £3.00
*price for 3
bulbs…£8.00
GAL. ‘MERLIN’
The Arthurian legend of Merlin and the magical associations of green
conjure up an entirely suitable name for another James Allen, the inner
petal being entirely green.
£8.00
GAL. ‘MIGHTY ATOM’
A much discussed plant, as Snowdrops often are. An intriguing name
implying largeness, instead this cultivar is short and sturdy.
Flowering later in the season.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£10.00
GAL. ‘MRS. THOMPSON’
Here is a plant which can exhibit some very strange flower formations,
it is much admired and on many wish lists. Flowers may have one stem
with two flowers from two pedicels, flowers can be fused together,
flowers can have extra segments ( inner and outer ) and flowers can be
just normal. All of these odd arrangements can appear in a single clump
the degree of strange behavior can not be foreseen and can be quite
beautiful.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER).
£12.00
GAL. ‘PRIMROSE WARBURG’
Mrs. Warburg’s garden South Hayes held many treasures, to
have walked along its sometimes tricky terrain brings back
memories of people and past times. Many people will recall her
generosity and kindness, so this yellow snowdrop is a remembrance of
one of the great Snowdrop Growers of recent times.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£25.00
GAL. ‘PEG SHARPLES’
An attractive strong growing cultivar, later flowering.
£7.00
GAL. ‘SALLY ANN’
This plant is another selection from Hyde Lodge and is well
proportioned, coming in the middle of the flowering season.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER
ORDER)
£12.00
GAL. ‘S. ARNOTT’
This is a sturdy and beautifully proportioned Snowdrop, it can grow to
10 –12”, with a large, well-rounded flower. When
seen growing en mass a better Snowdrop is hard to find and compared to
G. nivalis it is certainly a GIANT. A few bulbs of this fine plant will
give many years of delight.
£3.00
*Price for 3
bulbs…..£8.00
GAL. ‘SPINDLESTONE SURPRISE’
Another of the superb yellows originating in Northumberland.
(LIMITED TO ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£25.00
GAL. ‘ST. ANNES’
The long slender petals of this delicate looking cultivar and its late
flowering make this a desirable plant. Found in North Norfolk and
christened after a church in Sutton Bonnington,
Nottinghamshire. £10.00
GAL. ‘STRAFFAN’
A cultivar regularly producing 2 scapes (flower stalk) from a bulb. It
is noticeable that the first is larger than the second. This feature
and the lateness of flowering make it a worthwhile plant to have.
£5.00
GAL. ‘TUBBY MERLIN’
A mid season cultivar, bearing the traits of it’s relative
G.’Merlin’- solid, olive, green inner marking, but
being shorter.The foliage being almost flat and of a distinctive grey.
It is a worthy plant to give space to.
£8.00
GAL. ‘WINIFREDE MATHIAS’
A seedling named by Brigadier Mathias after his wife, together they ran
The Giant Snowdrop Company from Hyde Lodge, Gloucestershhire. Dainty
habit. £4.00
DOUBLE FLOWERED CULTIVARS
This section is mainly taken up with the series reffered to as the
Greatorex Doubles, but others will be listed aswell. Identification of
Doubles is not all that easy, within a clump mature and immature
flowers will be displayed and they may well all look quite different.
Therefore, allow a clump to establish and mature. Green tips
on the outer petal can also be a variable feature of Greatorex Doubles,
some years certain cultivars have them and some years they do
not.
GAL. ‘CORDELIA’
One of the Greatorex series of hybrids between G. nivalis
’Flore Pleno’ and G. plicatus, by Mr.H.A.
Greatorex in Norwich. The flowers tend to be more regular than some of
the series and it is slightly later flowering.
£6.00
GAL. ‘DESDEMONA’
Another of the aforementioned series. Larger than the previous
Snowdrop. £6.00
GAL. ‘DIONYSUS’
Again raised by H.A. Greatorex. Beautifully shaped flowers, which
appear early on in the season and a plant which inceases well.
£5.00
GAL. ‘HILLPOE’
A very neat double named after Mr. Blanche Hillpoe, a past secretary of
The RHS, from Ireland. The flower formation is extemely intricate
inside and it often has 4 or 5 outer petals. A distinct cultivar.
£6.00
GAL. ‘HIPPOLYTA’
From the Greatorex series, its wide leaves have a silver central
channel and it often has a second flower.
£5.00
GAL. ‘JACQUENETTA’
Tall Greatorex hybrid, its flowers are quite often very green.
£6.00
GAL.‘LADY BEATRIX STANLEY’
Flowers early in the season. It was known as G. caucasicus
‘flore Pleno’, but now it is considered a hybrid.
The flower shape is said to look like a molar tooth and the leaves are
very erect and glaucous. A plant which increases well.
£5.00
GAL. ‘OPHELIA’
Again produced by Mr. Greatorex and has a nicely rounded shape.
£5.00
GAL. ‘RICHARD AYRES’
A tall and early double, its flowers are large the number of outer
segments can vary from year to year. It was seen by Mr. Nutt growing in
the grounds of Anglesey Abbey and has since been found to be a strong
growing, very worthy Snowdrop.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£15.00
GAL. ‘RODMARTON’
From the home of the Biddulph family, near Cirencester in
Gloucestershire. A tall and large G. plicatus x G.n. ‘Flore
Pleno ’cultivar, being quite early and of a sturdy nature. It
grows
well.
£7.00
GAL. ‘WHITE SWAN’
Raised by Mr.Greatorex, but not named after one of Shakespeares female
characters. When established the plant grows most elegantly, limited
availability. £7.00
GALANTHUS SPECIES
The recently published (2001) Monograph entitled
‘Snowdrops’ recognizes 19 species, here are a few
of them.
GAL. ELWESII
For well over a century G.elwesii has been collected in Turkey
& brought into the bulb trade. This makes it second only to G.
nivalis in abundance. The majority of these imports have failed leaving
but a few. Much variation is found, this is evident by all of the named
forms which have appeared. Excessive over naming of the
‘giants’ within this group has happened –
some are worthy. It was previously reffered to as G. caucasicus.
This is an easily recognized plant – usually it is
large, has broad glaucous ( silver/grey ) leaves and bold markings. The
inner mark can be extremely variable -completely green, a cross, a
heart or just a bottom ( apical ) mark. It is interesting to examine a
patch of G. elwesii to spot the variability of inner markings.Green
tips are often present, but what matters is the constancy of these
features. G. elwesii is one of the most beautiful of Snowdrops.
GAL. ELWESII
Selected from various forms which are grown
here.
£3.00
GAL. ELWESII ‘COMET’
One of the most superb members of this group, shapely large flowers
hang from a long, arching pedicel. Found by Mr. Morley in the
1990’s.
£12.00
GAL. ELWESII ‘FLORE PLENO’
Found as a chance seedling amongst a group of G. elwesii, sometimes the
flower formation can be irregular.
£6.00
GAL. ELWESII ‘HIEMALIS’
An early variety which grows very well, its form is not as striking as
some G. elwesii, but to have a clump of Snowdrops blooming in November
is always welcome’.
£5.00
GAL. ELWESII ‘HELEN TOMLINSON’
A shapely flower form on this attractive
clone.
£7.00
GAL. ELWESII ‘MARY BIDDULPH’
One of the many very nice clones considered worth naming, a large
flower beneath a distinctly crooked spathe. Flowering towards the start
of the season. £7.00
GAL. ELWESII ‘MRS. MACNAMARA’
Another fine cultivar, firstly as it welcomes in the New Year, but even
if it flowered in the main season its attractions would be eye
catching. It is tall with more narrow foliage and has long slender
outer segments which appear quite thick, it is robust. A Snowdrop with
a history of intriguing previous names – G. ‘Dylan
Thomas’s Mothers Snowdrop’ and G.
‘Milkwood’.
£12.00
GAL. IKARIAE
Has dark, mat green leaves. The inner petal marking can be quite broad.
It is not a tall plant, but produces its flowers right at the end of
the Snowdrop season and it is distinctive.
£8.00
GAL. LAGODECHIANUS
A recognizable species with shiny, narrow leaves.
£6.00
GAL. NIVALIS
The plant we recognize as the Common Snowdrop can be traced back in
print to the 16 th. Century. Its natural distribution is Western,
Central and Southern Europe. Variation and mutation has occurred, but
it is surprisingly limited within the Northern European plants, so this
small, grey- green leaved specie all look very uniform to many eyes.
Naturallised G. nivalis often form large colonises and will spread very
quickly by offsetting bulbs and sometimes by setting seed. They
predominate in deciduous woodland and often frequent damp places, often
growing in North facing aspects and often on calcareous soils. The
following section refers to recognized named forms of G. nivalis and at
the end of this part will be found prices for Common Single
and Double Snowdrops available in multiples of ten.
GAL. NIVALIS ‘BLEWBURY TART’
A more recent find from a village in Oxfordshire. The inner segments
are green and are turned upright. One of the more odd than elegant
Snowdrops which always attracts comment.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£10.00
GAL. NIVALIS ‘DONCASTER’S DOUBLE
CHARMER’
One of the nicer green tipped double G. nivalis, it is more elegant in
form than others we grow. Originally from the Hampshire garden of Mrs.
Amy Doncaster and was previously known as G. nivalis ‘Double
Charmer’ or G. nivalis ‘Charmer Flore
Pleno’. £12.00
GAL. NIVALIS ‘GREENISH’
As its name suggests this is a form notable for the green shading on
both outer and inner segments, it is similar to G. n.
‘Virescens’, but not quite so late or so heavily
shaded on the inner segment. Snowdrops of this nature can sometimes be
tricky, but G.n. ‘Greenish’ does increase well.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£12.00
GAL. NIVALIS ‘HAMBUTTS ORCHARD’
One of several double forms, bearing a green mark on the outer segment.
This one is from a garden in Stroud, Gloucestershire and is strong
growing. £3.00
GAL. NIVALIS ‘ LADY ELPHINSTONE’
Can be a most beautiful and distinct double Snowdrop, due to its warm
apricot colouration. However, some years it temporarily reverts to
having green markings. A plant which is slow to establish, limited
availability. £7.00
GAL. NIVALIS ‘PUSEY GREEN TIP’
This green tipped double form was found near Faringdon,
Oxfordshire. £3.00
GAL. NIVALIS SCHARLOKII
Described by Mr.E.A. Bowles as ‘a curious freak’
because of the split spathe and green tip on the outer petals. A small,
rather unusual Snowdrop. £3.00
GAL. NIVALIS S.SP. VERNALIS
The spring flowering form is dainty and has leaves with a silver
mid-rib. £4.00
GAL. NIVALIS VIRIDAPICIS
This strong growing species is tall with distinctive green marks on the
outer petals and has a long spathe.
£3.00
GAL. NIVALIS WAREII
Very similar to the previous Snowdrop, but much taller with a hoodlike
spathe. £5.00
GALANTHUS
NIVALIS
The most widely grown Snowdrop is Galanthus nivalis. It is happy in a
wide range of growing conditions and after a few years it will have
increased. It is a very tough bulbous plant which will persist in all
but the worst conditions, surviving in most dry soils and waterlogged
wet places. Snowdrops are particularly happy beneath deciduous trees.
When in flower the Snowdrops enjoy winter sunshine and light. Then the
tree will provide coolness and shade during the hot summer months.
Clumps can be divided, when the plants are in leaf. This relieves
congestion as sometimes undivided clumps will dwindle. It is not
usually advisable to disturb clumps every season as it will take a
couple of years for the bulbs to settle down.
GAL. NIVALIS
The COMMON SNOWDROP will be seen growing happily in woodlands and
gardens of the British Isles. It is hardy and easy to grow producing
its pure white flowers at a time when little else is in flower. Once
planted the Snowdrop will continue to spread, eventually creating
beautiful drifts of white in late winter.
per 10 bulbs
£3.00
per 50 bulbs £10.00
per 100
bulbs £15.00
per 1000 bulbs
£120.00
GAL. NIVALIS FLORE PLENO
The well known and widely grown DOUBLE SNOWDROP has been cultivated
since the 1750’s. It can have 3 –5 outer petals,
the regularity of the inner segment can vary from year to year, it
grows happily in most situations.
per 10 bulbs £3.50
per 50
bulbs £15.00
per 100 bulbs £25.00
GAL. PLICATUS
Native of Russia, Romania and North West Turkey growing in deciduous
woods. It has deep green leaves sometimes with a silver channel. The
leaf edge is turned back (plicate) and it is always strong growing.
This plant is good for naturalizing.
£3.00
GAL. PLICATUS ‘AUGUSTUS’
Short in stature it may be, but always a recognizable and rather
beautiful selection. The flowers are chunky and seer-
suckered and its leaves are quite broad.
£6.00
GAL. PLICATUS ‘COLOSSUS’
From Colesbourne Park, this form is well passed its best when most
other Snowdrops are just setting out. A tall plant once settled and as
with the G. plicatus family it often has two flowers ( scapes
) per bulb. (LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER)
£10.00
GAL. WORONOWII
Syn. to G. latifolius, a distinctive small , neat Snowdrop with bright
green foliage. Will often seed & spread once
established. £3.00
For Sybil
9.4.1919 ------ 5.1.2010
Mrs. S.E. Gates,
Hamstead Marshall.
Hamstead COLLECTION 2010
100 Galanthus nivalis
100 Galanthus nivalis flore pleno
This collection of Snowdrops is ideal for a natural
planting . G. nivalis will start off a good drift of Snowdrops, these
should spread without too much bother. G. nivalis flore pleno
is the ‘double form’ of the common Snowdrop and
again the clumps will increase.
£40.00
This is only available via Mail Order & the price is inclusive
of post & packing.
Washwater COLLECTION 2010
3 Galanthus “Magnet”
3 Galanthus elwesii
3 Galanthus “Lady Beatrix Stanley”
In this selection G. elwesii, the strong growing grey leaved
specie will be a good contrast to the early double variety G.
‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ and G.
‘Magnet’ which seen in a well established clump has
a mass of swaying flowers.
£40.00
This is only available via Mail Order & the price is inclusive
of post packing.
MISCELLANEOUS
CROCUS TOMMASSINIANUS
This cheerful little mauve Crocus associates well with Cyclamen
and Aconites. It establishes easily from division and will set
seed.It has extremely small corms, we sell a small clump of several
corms. £2.00
ERANTHIS HYEMALIS
The WINTER ACONITE, upturned shining golden flowers, which look a bit
like short buttercups and emerge from the earth in January are very
cheerful on a chilly winters afternoon. They can be tricky to establish
so be patient and grow them in a place which is not disturbed by
digging, perhaps a shady corner with other winter bulbs. Small clumps
of several tubers are sold.
£3.00
A FEW
NOTES ON SNOWDROPS
It has already be mentioned that Snowdrops are not a Native to these
shores, although they look so right in woody places. G, nivalis has
come across from other European Countries and is the most common specie
Snowdrops, G. elwesii is a later introduction from Turkey.
Snowdrops are remarkably hardy and flower at a time when most garden
plants await the arrival of warmer weather. Snowdrops seem able to
withstand whatever the weather may be during the winter months.
Even after one of the coldest nights a flower may appear shriveled, but
once touched by the winter sunshine it will soon recover.
Prolonged cold spells will naturally check their growth, but it will
not be harmful. Even deluges of rain will not be a problem so long as
the soil is not overlying a poorly drained sub-soil. Despite their
delicate appearance Snowdrops are resilient plants.
Bare earth or sparse grass is more suitable than turf which is
regularly tended once the Snowdrops are no longer in bloom. A lawn is
not ideal – Snowdrops resent being mown and the compaction
resulting from regular rolling does not encourage them to increase.
Snowdrops planted in a lawn may come up, but they will not thrive and
look rather sad. Dense shade is often a problem site but G. nivalis
would be quite happy in such a place and combined with Cyclamen the
effect would be very pretty.
Wild drifts of Snowdrops are a wonderful sight; however most gardeners
do not have woods or orchards in which they can establish such a mass
planting. In the wild Galanthus occur in deciduous woods, here the
trees give summer shade but the flowers enjoy plenty of light in the
winter. Snowdrops are not fussy about soil type, a heavy fertile loam,
with neutral to slightly alkaline properties is fine. They will benefit
from humus-rich materials, but care is really minimal. Natural
plantings beneath trees and shrubs look super and over the
years will quietly spread. Even in a tiny garden a home can be
found for a clump of Snowdrops. As with all ideas of gardening how and
where to grow a plant is a personal choice, but bear in mind the
conditions Snowdrops seem to prefer and introduce a few to your garden.
At this time of year the first glimpse of white is as ever a cheerful
sign.
Establishing a drift of Snowdrops will take a while, bear in mind
certain growing requirements listed previously. Also, consider whether
Snowdrops appear in other gardens near yours, this will give an
indication of suitability. Not all soils will be suitable and
occasionally no matter how much effort is made to plant snowdrops they
just will not flourish.
Snowdrops might appear to some to have a fleeting seasonal interest,
but by planting a few G. reginae olgae ssp.reginae olgae (the autumn
flowering forms) then the Flowering span is longer. Autumn flowering
Snowdrops are not as straight forward as the forms we are used to
and to achieve great clumps is probably an unreality. Simply they are
not that easy and can for some reason grow very well for several
seasons and then go back to almost nothing. If you wish to grow these
Snowdrops remember there requirement for a much drier position, which
is open to the
sun.
Dry bulbs obtained in the autumn are not usually the most successful
way of establishing Snowdrops. In this state the over-extended storage
leads to dehydration and the bulbs do not recover well. Bulbs obtained
‘IN THE GREEN’ should be fresh looking, not dry in
appearance or showing signs of dying down. Neither should they be
soggy. Slightly dehydrated foliage soon recovers and continues to
develop. Plant the bulbs about 3” down, often a sprinkling of
sharp sand and bonemeal will encourage a good root system. Also some
leaf mould will prove beneficial. As previously mentioned regular
division is advisable; lift the clump when flowering or just after.
Care must be taken not to damage the root hairs or to allow them to dry
out. Sometimes it is a good idea to lift and move to a new position a
clump that has not multiplied.
Untended clumps, particularly the cultivars, deteriorate after a period
of time. A scattering of bonemeal in the autumn is a good idea,
although Snowdrops are not gross feeders. As to the question of growing
Snowdrops in pots – in our experience they do best in the garden.
The environment of a pot can be much to dry and temperatures fluctuate,
these and other factors do not suit
Snowdrops.
All Snowdrops have a perfume, it is a smell unique to the Galanthus
family and will be accentuated on a warm winters day. Scent is a
feature of most winter flowering plants. Many people will mention G.
‘ S. Arnott’ with it honey scented flowers, but the
whole Snowdrop family have a perfume. A bunch of picked Snowdrops will
soon lift their outer petals in a warm room to release the fragrance
peculiar to
Galanthus.
The growing and particularly the identifying of Snowdrops is not always
easy. For instance some years G. n. ‘Lady Elphinstone’ has
ordinary green and not pale, apricot flowers, this can be most
disappointing and sometimes G. ‘Straffan’ only produces a
single flower per bulb.
The characteristics of Snowdrop are refreshed every February when time
is spent admiring how well or otherwise the garden is looking. Some
Snowdrops will increase more quickly than others, this is to be
expected. This is all due to some plants being more vigorous than
others, as with all types of plants. Again some soils will be better
for some groups of snowdrops than others – for example yellow
forms seem to grow better on acid soils. Another point to remember is
how newly moved or disturbed bulbs may be smaller than expected in the
first season, but will improve once established. Sometimes no flowers
will be produced in the first year, disappointing but not uncommon.
They really do grow larger and better in the following years. With a
nursery we find that some Snowdrops are disturbed too often and so we
have to be careful or else they are not allowed to flourish, so care
has to be taken. As previously mentioned in the section for Double
Snowdrops identification is terribly difficult, particularly with Mr.
Greatorex’s Hybrid Doubles. Within a clump flowers may not be
uniform, immature, poorly formed flowers will appear as well as
perfectly shaped ones. Also green tips will appear on some flowers one
year, but not the next or even within a group green tips will come to
certain flowers but not others. It can be rather confusing. So the
growing of Snowdrops is not for the faint hearted.
Definite names can not be found for all Snowdrops, they are so
variable, not every plant should be named. Identification can be
tricky, but that is part of the
fun.
For those wishing to grow one or two of the less common or GIANT
Snowdrops the following are worth trying:
GAL. ‘ATKINSII’ , early & slim, a hybrid which will
increase well & naturalises readily. It has large pearl drop shaped
flowers.
GAL. ‘GALATEA’, elegant & impressive, the large flower
hangs heavily; J. A. Allen considered it to be a GIANT of the family.
GAL. ‘S. ARNOTT’ received an Award of Merit in 1957, being
tall and beautifully proportioned; it increases well & is still my
favourite.
GAL. ELWESII the beauty of the silver leaves makes this a stunning
plant, it is easy to identify & strong growing.
GAL . NIVALIS ‘VIRIDAPICIS’ a single, well worth closer
inspection by getting on your hands & knees to view the delicate
green flush on the outer petals.
Enthusiastic interest in Snowdrops does not appear to wain, what is the
reason for our love of Snowdrops? The question has many replies - They
are the first things to appear on chilly winter days, not minding
frosts or wet. A simple, white flower which just grows itself without
much help from a gardener. They are part of the cycle heralding new
beginnings. A turn around the garden to see what is coming up gets the
gardener out and interested in the changes happening, a positive
stimulus after the decline of Autumn.
These are only a few suggestion so read through this booklet and if
possible look at Snowdrops. Many private gardens now open in late
winter for their displays of Snowdrops, or visit one of The RHS. Flower
Shows. Here Snowdrops can be viewed at eye level which is a lot easier
than on hands and knees in the chill or wet.
Above all enjoy this time of year and enjoy your Snowdrops.
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