The snowdrop for
the gardener not the Galanthophile
Whether you know
them as Snowdrops or Galanthus their beauty is no less. Would we cherish these,
the gentlest of plants so much so if they were available all year? Or is their
narrow window of flower the true attraction? Last year the highest price bid
for a single bulb was £725! This could be viewed as true passion or sheer
lunacy, either way you do not need to stretch to these lengths to genuinely
appreciate these exquisite plants.
Amongst the hundreds of cultivars circling Galanthus collectors there are some beastly looking doubles, flirtatious hybrids where the petals flick outwards like a 1950’s ladies dress; and still my favourite the delicate single snowdrop, the green markings glancing up at you through its petals like a nervous lopped ear rabbit.
Amongst the hundreds of cultivars circling Galanthus collectors there are some beastly looking doubles, flirtatious hybrids where the petals flick outwards like a 1950’s ladies dress; and still my favourite the delicate single snowdrop, the green markings glancing up at you through its petals like a nervous lopped ear rabbit.
However for the
majority of us, the modest gardener, we require the snowdrop to be part of our
passion, our gardens, integrated in with other plants. We long for the snowdrop
to appear to encourage us to venture into our gardens in the wet, in the icy
winds and enjoy all the early flowering plants in January.
We need strong
varieties that will bulk up quickly over the season flower profusely and not
cost us a small fortune and to be a delightful view from the kitchen window as
we ponder thoughtfully over our gardens from a distance.
Galanthus nivalis – the familiar but still enchanting
Galanthus nivalis Flore Pleno (Double)
Galanthus nivalis Flore Pleno – the common, but none the worse for
that, double form.
Galanthus - the Latin name meaning ‘milk flower’. They are
surprisingly not native to Britain but are believed to have introduced from
Europe by monks in the medieval period. Galanthus only gained there English
name of ‘Snowdrop’ in the seventeenth century probably given due to the common
species ‘nivalis’ meaning ‘snow like’.
Snowdrops cleverly close their flowers during the cool nights to
encapsulate the daytime warmth, the temperature inside the bell is sometimes as
much as two degrees higher than the night air.
Snowdrops like a moisture retentive soil and are best grown in
part shade.
