The snowdrop for the gardener not the Galanthophile

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.

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.