2008 SNOWDROPS
Time again for trips out into the outdoors after the days of Christmas are now a memory, the need to be active and interested is a good feeling. What will be through the soil today – it's all full of promise. The washed out days of last summer however disappointing and problematic are all a long time ago our weather is so strange. Now early heads of Galanthus elwesii heimalis are beginning to spoil, while the superb G. elwesii 'Mrs. MacNamara' holds its beauty getting better every day, waiting for the others to join them.
Within this catalogue only details of Snowdrops ( Galanthus ) are listed. Each January the Snowdrop Catalogue is updated and towards the middle of the month customers who have ordered in 2007 or who have requested it, will be sent a copy.
Throughout the year we regularly exhibit plants at The RHS. London Flower Shows, these reflect the seasonal changes. A good way of viewing Snowdrops will be the early Royal Horticultural Flower Shows in Vincent Square. The dates to note are 12 & 13 February 2008 and as usual our annual ' Snowdrop Day ' will take place on the following Saturday (16 February 2008.) Throughout the country there will be many Snowdrop occasions such as 'Walks' and 'Garden Opens' so see what is on in your local area.
LOUISE & ROBERT PETERS
FOXGROVE PLANTS
FOXGROVE
ENBORNE
NEWBURY
BERKS
RG14 6RE
TEL; 01635 40554
www.foxgroveplants.co.uk
METHODS OF PURCHASING SNOWDROPS
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 regularly in London. A similar arrangement can be made for Alpine Garden Society Shows- 9 February & 8 March Burleigh Community College, LOUGHBOROUGH, Leicestershire and 1 March 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. 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.
© FOXGROVE PLANTS 2008.
ABOUT 'FOXGROVE PLANTS'.
At FOXGROVE PLANTS, we grow a wide range of hardy and more unusual plants Snowdrops begin our season lasting from late January through to March. At this time we also have a varied colour selection of HELLEBORUS ORIENTALIS (the Lenten Rose.) Originally the stock was from Helen Ballard and each year young plants are propagated from seed. The Lenten rose is a superb garden plant; it is very hardy, early flowering and the flower form is beautiful. The colour range is very wide – from purest white through to rich plum purples, some have spotted faces and some do not. These Hellebores will grow happily in shade and require a well-drained soil which is not too dry in the summer. Other winter flowering plants which associate well with Snowdrops include Aconites ( ERANTHIS HYEMALIS) and CYCLAMEN COUM.
The following page lists a wide selection of Snowdrops. Many are expensive, due to their rarity, but we also grow the better known GALANTHUS NIVALIS, which will give an equally good display.
During the rest of the year we grow a varied range of plants from small herbaceous plants and a considerable selection of grasses.This year Epimedium cultivars and a small selection of Daphnes will be a different group of plants to offer grown by Robin White from Blackthorn. Details of these plants can be found in our MAIN PLANT CATALOGUE FOR 2008.
The nursery is family run; we propagate and grow all our own plants; the experience of growing plants is genuine and gathered over a period of years. Throughout the year we exhibit at major Flower shows so look out for our stands at Malvern Spring, BBC Gardeners World Live and Hampton Court, to name but a few. Or give us a visit, please check opening times on page 1 and refer to the map before setting out.
GALANTHUS CULTIVARS
SINGLE FLOWERING GALANTHUS CULTIVAR
This year within this part several names have been removed simply because identification is very difficult. These are the G. 'S. Arnott' types e.g. G. 'Mrs. Backhouse No. 12 G. 'Neil Fraser And G.'Brenda Troyle'.they will always be grown under these names and can be viewed for 'comparison' at the nursery or at exhibitions, but in our opinion it's unfair to have names for plants which are basically the same. Perhaps they were originally 'found' by different people in different places, subsequent distribution then brought them closer and then their similarities were more evident.
Several additions have been made and hopefully this will add interest to this seasons catalogue.
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. 'BESS'
Significantly taller than most Snowdrops, this clone named by Daphne Chappell is a beautiful example of this group of bulbous plants. It is vigorous and large, a good plant to add to a collection.
(LIMITED TO ONE BULB PER ORDER) £10.00
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. 'ISOBELL BLAKEWAY-PHILLIPS'
Found in the Shropshire village of Clun by the Reverend Richard Blakeway-Phillips.It is neat and really flowers beautifully, grown for the distinctive heart marking with a faint oval above on the inner segment.A few of this pretty cultivar.
£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 .
£6.00
GAL. 'RUSHMERE GREEN'
This flowers right at the end of the Snowdrop Season, Mr.Mark Brown came across this plant and it is certainly a distinct addition.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER) £12.00
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 referred to as the Greatorex Doubles, but others will be listed
as well. 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.
£6.00
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
G. 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
G. ELWESII 'FLORE PLENO'
Found as a chance seedling amongst a group of G. elwesii , sometimes the flower formation can be irregular.
£5.00
G. 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
G.ELWESII 'HELEN TOMLINSON'
A shapely flower form on this attractive clone .
£5.00
G.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. £6.00
G. 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.
Naturalised 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.
GALANTHUS 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 'GILT EDGE'
A variegated form, which seems to be fairly constant and worth growing. Flowers are nicely shaped.
(LIMITED ONE BULB PER ORDER) £10.00
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
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
SNELSMORE COLLECTION 2008
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.
DONNINGTON COLLECTION 2008
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.
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 shrivelled, 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 humous-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 occassionally 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 aswell 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.