Goldsborough Hall’s Snowdrops
As you can see not all snowdrops are the same!
Click on a letter below to find out more:
A B C D E F G H I J K L
M N O P R S T V W Z
There are around 20 different species of snowdrop originating from Europe and the Middle East with the most common being Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus elwesii and Galanthus plicatus. Most hybrid snowdrops come from these three.
The Snowdrop Walk has around 160 different snowdrop cultivars. Each has a story to tell. To find out more see the alphabetical list - its common name first, and its botanical name second.
A
Ailwyn - Galanthus ‘Ailwyn’ (d) One of the few almost perfectly symmetrical doubles, it has a central rosette with evenly and tidily packed petals. Ailwyn, a chance hybrid seedling with the giant snowdrop G elwesii, remains perhaps the most perfect double. Discovered at Anglesey Abbey, it is named after its former owner, Lord Fairhaven. A vigorous grower, it soon forms a fine clump in the garden.
Amy Doncaster - Galanthus plicatus ‘Amy Doncaster’ Much sought-after; the outer segments have short, green lines near the tips; the heart shaped inner mark is surrounded by paler shading. A short compact snowdrop. Seedling from Amy Doncaster’s Chandler’s Ford garden Hampshire, 1988
Angel - Galanthus elwesii ‘Angel’ named after galanthophile Mike Heagney’ s sister Gel. Mike and Gel live at Tudor Croft in Guisborough.
Anglesey Abbey - Galanthus nivalis ‘Anglesey Abbey’. Flowers show a strong tendency to ‘poculiform’, with inner segments having little or no green shading, thus the whole flower thus appears white against the bright green leaves. An early flowering snowdrop.
Anglesey Doublet - Galanthus ‘Anglesey Doublet’ (d). Large big thick elwesii leaves with a tall flower stem. A lovely neat double hybrid selected at the world-famous Anglesey Abbey in Cambridgeshire.
Armine - Galanthus ‘Armine’. Tall and very elegant, good large foliage and flowers giving the whole plant gravitas. Markings on the inner segments can be clearly seen even when the flower is not fully opened. These markings consist of an apical horseshoe and a green balloon-lettering ‘X’ at the base. Raised by Brigadier Armine Mathias and Mrs Mathias and first offered by the Giant Snowdrop Company in 1962.
Atkinsii - Galanthus ‘Atkinsii’. Similar to Magnet and James Backhouse but flowers earlier. Resembles a drop-pearl earring. The true form comes from James Atkins of Painswick dating from the 1860s.
Augustus - Galanthus plicatus ‘Augustus’. Named by Amy Doncaster for E A Bowles. A bulbous perennial, to 10cm tall, with broad, green to grey-green leaves. The pure white outer petals have an unusual dimpled appearance, the inner petals are green, with a slight waist and a white base.
B
Bagpuize Virginia - Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus ‘Bagpuize Virginia’ (d). Up to 20cm tall with narrow grey green leaves with green tips to the outer segment of the flower with inner segments each marked with an inverted green. From Virginia Grant, Bagpuize House, Kingston Bagpuize.
Ballerina - Galanthus ‘Ballerina’ (d). The tightly packed petals forming the double flower resemble a ballerina's tutu. Beautiful and neat. Found by Phil Cornish at Hatherly Manor, Glos in 1991
Barbara's Double - Galanthus ‘Barbara's Double’ (d). A dwarf late-flowering double with a horse shoe like broad single mark on the inner segments. Selected by E A Bowles from the garden of Lady Beatrix Stanley and named after her daughter, Barbara.
Beany - Galanthus elwesii ‘Beany’. From the Oppenheimer estate at White Waltham in Berkshire, this is a glorious large and round form of G elwesii with very bold dark green tips to the outer segments and dark green marks on the inner segment.
Bertram Anderson - Galanthus ‘Bertram Anderson’. Hybrid cultivar from the ‘Mighty Atom’ group originating from Bertram Anderson's Lower Slaughter garden and named in his memory. Often confused with Mighty Atom. This plant, though large flowered, is very dwarf. Early, vigorous and strong. Broad glaucous leaves with large rounded flowers. Inner segments marked with large, blurred green mark in inverted V.
Bess - Galanthus ‘Bess’. Hybrid cultivar. A beautiful, large and vigorous clone which Daphne Chappell selected from the former garden of Helen Milford at Chedworth, Glos in 1990 and named it after the late Bess Milford. The inner segments are longitudinally incurved and show a broad V mark that is slightly turned up at the end of both arms. Similar in many ways to S Arnott but 2-3 weeks earlier. Easy and reliable, often in flower for the early New Year.
Betty Hansell - Galanthus ‘Betty Hansell’ (d). A viridescent double with pointed outer segments and pale green lines towards the tips. Large X inner mark. Can produce two scapes when growing well. Discovered in 1994 by Robert Marshall near Hainford, Norfolk and named after his aunt.
Bill Bishop - Galanthus ‘Bill Bishop’. An enormous snowdrop of the Mighty Atom clan, long outer segments and a both inverted V shaped mark on the inner. Early flowering. Found by, and named for Bill Bishop.
Blewbury Tart - Galanthus nivalis pleniflorus ‘Blewbury Tart’ (d). Upright snowdrop with outward facing flowers resembling little green tartlets above the leaves. An Alan Street introduction, founded in Blewbury, Oxfordshire.
Brenda Troyle - Galanthus ‘Brenda Troyle’. A fine rounded scented flower similar to S Arnott but flowers earlier. Uncertain in origin and possibly from Ireland.
Bumblebee - Galanthus plicatus ‘Bumblebee’. Intentionally bred using x plicatus Trym; the flower shape is slightly more rounded than the usual x plicatus Trym offspring. A really outstanding snowdrop with beautiful, dark green marks on the outer segments and solid green inners. Bred by Joe Sharman.
Bunch - Galanthus nivalis ‘Bunch’. Well-shaped flowers, leaves applanate, slim, erect, and blue green. Numerous long, narrow, incurved segments. generally white, green marking on underside. A spiky snowdrop with numerous long, white petals in a dense bunch; the innermost petals are shaded green near the tips. From Joe Sharman.
By Gate - Galanthus ‘By Gate’. This is an elwesii clone with a large flower held, hanging beautifully on a noticeably long pedicel. There is a broad marking at the apex of the inner segments. Rather a late flowering form of the species.
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Carlton House - Galanthus 'Carlton House' . Given by galanthophile Mike Heagney of Tudor Croft Gardens in February 2024.
Castlegar - Galanthus 'Castlegar' hybrid cultivar. Elegant early Irish snowdrop with sturdy scales and small pendant flowers. The inner mark is a sharply angled ‘V’ with expanded ends. Comes from Woodland Mahon Estate, Castlegar, Co Galway.
Caucasicus - Galanthus caucasicus (Baker) Grossh. The leaves are broad and grey-green, and the flowers have horseshoe-shaped green marks on the inner petals. A charming, diminutive sub-alpine snowdrop from the Caucasus and Trans-Caucasus as well as the Pontus mountains of Turkey and adjacent Russia.
Cedric's Prolific - Galanthus elwesii 'Cedric's Prolific'. Large and prolific which flowers and spreads well. Originally from the garden of Sir Cedric Morris at Benton End, Hadleigh, Suffolk.
Celia's Double - Galanthus x valentinei ‘Celia's Double’ (d). A neat and vigorous double from the garden of Celia and Walter Sawyer in Oxfordshire.
Chedworth - Galanthus nivalis 'Chedworth'. Found in Chedworth, Gloucestershire by Daphne Chappell in Helen Milford's old garden. Thought to be similar to Straffan in looks but without the second flowering scape and even later flowering. Vigorous and spreads easily.
Chiltern's Queen - Galanthus elwesii 'Chiltern's Queen' (d). A new short neatish double from a seedling population of elwesii.
Cliff Curtis - Galanthus ‘Cliff Curtis’. This seedling hybrid and has amazing flowers, beautifully marked and somewhat creamy coloured when first open. Named for a true Galanthophile and a very kind gardener.
Comet - Galanthus elwesii 'Comet'. Large shapely flowers carried on long arching pedicel. Green markings on outer segment vary considerably. Huge white flowers similar to elwesii but only one large mark on the inner segments and sometimes with green tips. Pointed grey green leaves. Very vigorous with large bulbs. From John Morely, rock garden RHS Wisley 1982.
Compton Court - Galanthus x valentinei ‘Compton Court’. Named by Brian Duncan and a friend of the family that had lived in Compton Court for the last 40 years. It is a big flowered and vigorous variety, possibly flowering a bit earlier but otherwise very similar to the well known Galanthus S Arnott.
Cordelia - Galanthus 'Cordelia' (d) Small neat double and late. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
Cowhouse Green - Galanthus ‘Cowhouse Green’. Hybrid cultivar. This beautiful single snowdrop is quite tall and has pale green lines and delicate fading between on the lower half of the outer segments. The inners have a lovely pale green diffuse marking at their base. Originally spotted by Mark Brown in Susan Cowdy’s garden in Buckinghamshire in the 1980s. Slow to increase and scarce. Made its public debut in 1994 being shown by David Bromley.
D
Desdemona - Galanthus 'Desdemona' (d). A relatively large flowering irregular double. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
Diggory - Galanthus plicatus ‘Diggory’. Found in a population of G plicatus near Wells, Norfolk by Rosie Steele and Richard Hobbs in 1993 and named after Rosie’s late son. Instantly recognizable and still very sought after. The lantern-like shape formed from the thickly puckered and inward curving outer segments is distinctive and outstanding.
Dionysus - Galanthus ‘Dionysus’. One of the earliest of the Greatorex doubles. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
Doncaster's Double Charmer - Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus 'Doncaster's Double Charmer' (d). A well marked late double with three outer segments. Found and named after Amy Doncaster at Chandler's Ford in Hampshire. The inner segments are regular and symetrical and the outer segments have nice clear green markings running down the centre.
E
E A Bowles - Galanthus plicatus 'E A Bowles'. This is a giant poculiform of G plicatus found by Michael Myers at Myddelton House, Essex and aptly named after one of Britain’s greatest gardeners Edward Augustus Bowles.
Elizabeth Harrison - Galanthus woronowii 'Elizabeth Harrison'. An exciting G. woronowii with yellow inner segment marking and ovary, the first cultivar to combine this with green foliage. Its fame was greatly accelerated in 2012 when it was sold on eBay for a then new record of £725.
Elwesii - Galanthus elwesii. The snowdrop collection at Colesbourne Park originated from the plantings of Henry John Elwes d1922. He discovered G Elwesii in 1874 in western Turkey.
Elworthy Bumble Bee - Galanthus nivalis ‘Bumble Bee’ (d). Early double with very swept back outer segments like a bee. From Elworthy Cottage in Somerset.
Ermine Farm - Galanthus ‘Ermine Farm’ (d). A striking double with fairly long outer petals. Smaller flowers than usual for doubles almost wasp-lik. 3/4 fuzzy green inner mark. Raised by Hector Harrison of Appleby, South Humberside. The prefix Ermine comes from the Roman road that runs past his house.
Ermine House - Galanthus ‘Ermine House’ (d). An excellent regular double with proportionally long outer segments. Found and named by Hector Harrison of Appleby in South Humberside.
Eskdaleside - Galanthus 'Eskdaleside'. Given to Goldsborough Hall and named by galathophile Mike Heagney of Tudor Croft gardens.
F
Falkland House - Galanthus 'Falkland House' hybrid cultivar. A great sturdy snowdrop, often compared to Mighty Atom, but with larger flowers. Named after the former Gloucestershire residence of Herbert Ransom, gardener to the Mathias family of Giant Snowdrop Company fame, the first specialist snowdrop company.
Farringdon Double - Galanthus 'Faringdon Double' (d). Earliest double snowdrop to flower. Large flower has regular inner segments with a bold heart shaped marking diffused towards the ovary. Named by David and Ruby Baker at Faringdon, Oxon.
Fieldgate Prelude - Galanthus elwesii 'Fieldgate Prelude'. One of the early flowering cultivars. Nice compact clump with plenty of flowers (looks like Wasp). Named by the galanthrophile Colin Mason, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Fly Fishing - Galanthus 'Fly Fishing'. From a seedling selected at Avon Bulbs by the late Alan Street, with its incredibly long, slender and gracefully arched pedicel. Early flowering.
Forge Double - Galanthus Forge Double (d). Tidy neat double. Outer segments are slender and strong incurved. Inners are clasping and heart shaped with a mark at the apex. Discovered in 1988 by Rod Leeds.
Fosteri - Galanthus fosteri. A small species from SE Turkey and Lebanon. Like a diminutive galanthus elwesii but with bright green leaves.
Fox Farm - Galanthus plicatus subsp. byantinus 'Fox Farm'. Attractive well shaped flowers, long ovary. Outer segments rounded textured, bluntly pointed. Inner segments small green dot either side of the sinus, narrowly joined, separate broad-green mark towards base.
Framlingham Double - Galanthus 'Framlingham Double' (d.) Petite and one of the smallest double rare hybrids. Late flowering.
Francesca de Grammont - Galanthus nivalis 'Francesca de Grammont'. Very lovely true poculiform snowdrop late flowering. Pure white inners and very even outer segments held above beautiful blue-green leaves. A small snowdrop growing up to 14 cm high.
Franz Josef - Galanthus elwesii ‘Franz Josef’ (d). A neat and handsome double form of Galanthus elwesii from an old garden in Germany with attractive inner markings and green tipped outers. It was found in Munich by Michale Dreisvogt of the Arboretum Park Harle. The flower reminded him of the Bavarian politiian Franz Josef Strauss.
Fred Feigal Double - Galanthus ‘Fred Feigal Double’ (d). A double, new to this garden, from Joe Sharman at Monksilver Nursery.
G
G75 - Galanthus ‘G75’ (d) A relatively young snowdrop only listed by Philip Ballard in 1978. Plump rounded Greatorex double 15cm tall. The ovary is small and pointed. Flowers Feb into March. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles (but not this one!) were named after Shakespearean characters.
Galatea - Galanthus ‘Galatea’. Similar to Magnet but differing with the perfect right angle in the inner markings and earlier to flower.
Gatherley - Galanthus plicatus ‘Gatherley’. This was given to galanthophile Mike Heagney for appraisal by his friend Val Hepworth, Chairman of the Yorkshire Gardens Trust. When the A1 was being widened in 2014 she saw these by the side of the road near to the entrance lodges of Gatherley Castle near Scotch Corner. Since the traffic was at a standstill she quickly dug up a few before they were bulldozed and disappeared under the new road.
George Elwes - Galanthus ‘George Elwes’ Hybrid cultivar. Large white snowdrop, grey leaves, named after the late son of Carolyn and Henry Elwes. A handsome hybrid between G plicatus and G elwesii.
Gerard Parker - Galanthus plicatus 'Gerard Parker'. One of the best plicatus cultivars; strong, reliable and quick to form clumps. When well grown, the flowers can be immense. Perhaps the largest of the species, appearing almost balloon-like and further enhanced by the ridged and puckered texture of the outer segments. This plicate snowdrop has wide green leaves with a tiny pleat in the foliage that folds backwards. Probably originated with Lady Stern at Highdown gardens but came to attention when Primrose Warburg distributed the bulbs.
Ginn's Imperati - Galanthus ‘Ginn's Imperati’. Similar to S Arnott with its crisp narrow horseshoe marking at the base of each inner segment. Highly scented. Grown by Ron Ginns of Desborough, Northamptonshire in the 1950s from bulbs collected north of Rome by Robert Gathorne-Hardy.
Godfrey Owen - Galanthus elwesii ‘Godfrey Owen’ (d). The only elwesii cultivar to have six outer and six inner segments. This snowdrop was by the late Shropshire plantswoman Margaret Owen, and named after her husband. This is a dainty variety of G elwesii, unique on account of its perfectly formed flowers that bear twice the usual number of petals.
Gracilis - Galanthus gracilis. Known as the ‘Slender Snowdrop’. It forms a clump of linear, twisted grey green leaves and scented nodding white flowers 2.5cm long, the inner sepals each with two green marks, flowering in late winter and early spring. The ovary is noticeably of a yellow-green colour. It is native to south east Europe and Turkey, growing in woodland and scrub communities.
Green Brush - Galanthus elwesii ‘Green Brush’. A sturdy elwesii cultivar with large, fat flowers each with a prominent green mark on the outer petals. Typical broad grey leaves. One of the best green marked snowdrops. Found in the Netherlands by Gerard Oud, a well-known Dutch snowdrop nurseryman.
Green Comet - Galanthus ‘Green Comet’. Fine introduction with a very large flower contrasting well with bright green leaves. Large hybrid with long pedicels. Similar to ‘Comet’ but with unusually broad green leaves. From John Morley, North Green, Suffolk first offered in 2009.
Green Fingers - Galanthus nivalis ‘Green Fingers’ (d). Similar to Blewbury Tart – outer segments fine and tinged with pale green. Inner segments splay outwards revealing dark green inside.
Greenfinch - Galanthus ‘Greenfinch’. A stunning virescent - tall, robust with plicate-like leaves. Flowers rounded with deep crescents on the outer segment. Originally found in the former Heyrick Greatorex garden by Richard Hobb.
Greenish - Galanthus nivalis ‘Greenish’. A late flowering snowdrop with nice green colouring on the outer and inner petals. The outer petals are noticeably green tinged and the inner petals markedly so. Greenish was found in Austria in the early 1960s and found its way into cultivation in the UK through Philip Ballard who received bulbs from the finder.
Grumpy - Galanthus elwesii '‘Grumpy’. This form of G elwesii was found and named by Joe Sharman in 1990 in Cambridgeshire. The solid-looking flowers exhibit a claw like tip to the base of the broad outer segments, and when they open the inner segment markings seem to mimic a green downturned mouth below green eyes.
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Headbourne - Galanthus ‘Headbourne’. Hybrid cultivar. A fine early snowdrop originally from the garden of plantsman Lewis Palmer at Headbourne, Hampshire. Distinct narrower blue-grey foliage splayed out forms attractive clumps for the pristine white flowers with quite subtle markings on the inner segments.
Heffalump - Galanthus ‘Heffalump’ (d) Hybrid double. A good regular double with very visible markings on the inner segments. The outer segments are long and thin, but still rounded. Inner segments have 2 marks each, an inverted heart at the sinus with a squared-off large blotch higher up. Named for galanthophile Primrose Warburg’s husband, whose nickname was ‘Heffalump’.
Hiemalis Group - Galanthus elwesii Hiemalis Group. This form opens its first flowers in November, always some for Christmas, emerging from enfolding grey leaves. Broad, strap-shaped, glaucous leaves and flowers that are borne from late autumn into early winter. The relatively large, globular flowers have white outer segments and inner segments variably marked with green at the apex.
Hill Poe - Galanthus ‘Hill Poe’ (d). Very neat shortish double with slight green lines at the top of the flower. Hill Poe is a hybrid double probably from a cross between nivalis flore pleno and plicatus. It has five or six narrow outer petals and a regular rosette of inner petals. Flowers late in the season. Discovered in Ireland by James Hill Poe in his garden at Riverston, Co. Tiperrary in 1911.
Hippolyta - Galanthus ‘Hippolyta’ (d) Hybrid double. Lovely short and neat double with rounded flowers. Inner segments have a chunky inverted mark at the apex, and the faintest hint of green at the tips of the outers. Introduced by Greatorex in the 1940s These snowdrops have neat skirts as well, but are shorter. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
Honeysuckle Cottage - Galanthus ‘Honeysuckle Cottage’. Hybrid cultivar. From Sally Pasmore's garden in Somerset. Tall, early vigorous G nivalis and G plicatus hybrid, bolt upright and showy. Vigorous and clump forming.
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Ivy Cottage Corporal - Galanthus ‘Ivy Cottage Corporal’. Boldly marked hybrid recalling the chevrons on a corporal’s uniform. Strong and vigorous. First of the Ivy Cottage series from Michael Broadhurst at Rainbow Farm, Beccles, Suffolk.
J
Jaquennetta - Galanthus 'Jaquennetta' (d). A double with beautiful symmetrical segments heavily marked in green. One of a range of doubles developed by Greatorex in Norfolk in the 1940s. Has small, tight double flowers and usually has good green marks on the tips of the outer petals. Easy to grow and increases well. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
James Backhouse - Galanthus ‘James Backhouse’. Hybrid cultivar. A wonderfully vigorous and easy mid-January to mid-February snowdrop with large, distinctive elongated flowers. Originated in the Backhouse Nurseries in York in 1875.
Jessica - Galanthus elwesii ‘Jessica’. A fine form of elwesii with sharply defined green markings on the outer segments and a long green ovary and broad, arching foliage. Found by Phil Cornish near Wroxall, Warwickshire in 1997 and named after his wife.
John Gray - Galanthus ‘John Gray’ Hybrid cultivar. Early flowering and very showy. The exceptionally large flowers are so heavy they almost touch the ground. Originated in the garden of the late John Gray at Benhall, near Saxmundham, in Suffolk.
Jonathan - Galanthus elwesii ‘Jonathan’. Large flowered and not unlike ‘Grumpy’ though not as upset. Green tips to the outer markings and fused inner segments with heart shaped green markings. The most unusual feature of this cultivar is the apricot pigmentation on the inner segments. This early/mid-season elwesii was found in a garden in Kettlesing, North Yorkshire. It is named for their son who sadly died at a young age. Introduced by galanthophile Michael Myers in North Yorkshire in 2000 and bought from his home in Pateley Bridge.
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Ketton - Galanthus ‘Ketton’. Hybrid cultivar Tall with noticeably narrow and erect leaves. The large flowers are held well clear above them. The flowers have a small inner segment mark, often reduced to two dots and a noticeable greenish flush towards the base. The original bulbs came from a garden in Ketton, East Midlands and were given to galanthophile E A Bowles when he was in the village researching a never-published book on anemones.
Kingston Double - Galanthus ‘Kingston Double’ (d). A pleasant double which stands out for its whiteness. This clone produces extra petals which hides the small green-marked inners. The inner segments are marked with an olive green apical V. Discovered in the early 1970s by Elizabeth Parker-Jervis at the old garden of Marlie Raphael at Kingston House, Oxfordshire.
L
Lady Beatrix Stanley - Galanthus ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley' (d). Large well-shaped double flowers wich are early flowering and increase well. Neat tight double. Possibly from the gardens of Barbara Buchanan who brought the plants from her mother’s Lady Beatrix at Sibbertoft.
Lady Elphinestone - Galanthus nivalis f pleniflorus ‘Lady Elphinestone’ (d) . Lady Elphinstone can be up to 12cm tall, with narrow, grey-green leaves and solitary, nodding, fragrant, double white flowers, the inner segments lightly-marked with greenish-yellow. This yellow snowdrop was found at Heawood Hall in Cheshire in 1890.
Lady Fairhaven - Galanthus elwesii ‘Lady Fairhaven’ (d). Neat double elwesii with broad rounded outers. Often seen as the same as Ailwyn. From Anglesey Abbey 1998.
Lapwing - Galanthus ‘Lapwing’. A robust very early flowering snowdrop, easily identified with its gently shaded X shaped inner marking. A chance find in a mixed population of snowdrops, made by galathophile Phil Cornish in 1997 near the village of Lapworth in Gloucestershire.
Lavinia - Galanthus ‘Lavinia' (d). Similar to Cordelia, but this double differs in having, on average six less inner segments which are incurved. Named after Heyrick Greatorex’s (1884-1954) mother, Mariane Lavinia.
Limetree Galanthus ‘Limetree’. Considered to be very close to Atkinsii, but a slender version which blooms somewhat earlier. It has an interesting history having been discovered growing beneath the limetree under which the conservative politician Rab Butler drafted his reforming 1944 education act. A selection by galanthophile Oliver Wyatt of Maidwell Hall.
Little Ben - Galanthus ‘Little Ben’. Hybrid cultivar. Gigantic flowers on a diminutive plant, one of the Mighty Atom group of snowdrops, introduced by Michael Myers along with Ray Cobb.
Lola - Galanthus elwesii ‘Lola’ (d). Late flowering double-flowered elwesii with nicely marked thick green inner segments with a bold X with flowers that face upright slightly. Galanthopile Phil Cornish found this and named it after a granddaughter.
Louise Ann Bromley - Galanthus elwesii ‘Louise Ann Bromley’. Possibly the largest or longest outer segment of any snowdrop and is named for the sister of famous galanthophile, David Bromley in Shropshire. One of the very best selections of G elwesii with typically wide grey - green leaves.
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Magnet - Galanthus ‘Magnet’. Vigorous old hybrid with large flowers on tall scapes and a height of 20cm. Its large flowers move in the slighest breeze. Selected by galathophile James Allen pre-1894.
Maidwell L - Galanthus elwesii var. elwesii ‘Maidwell L’. A large, robust and vigorous elwesii hybrid with very attractive, broad, glaucous, blue-grey leaves. Bears large elongated single flowers in early February. Its inner segments are marked with a large, deep green X mark. Selected by Oliver Wyatt at Maidwell Hall in Northants.
Marjorie Brown - Galanthus elwesii ‘Marjorie Brown’. Distinctly blue case to wide arching glaucous leaves. Single inverted V at base of segments. Originally named from a batch of bulbs obtained from the Dutch firm Van Tubergen in 1958 but which was not noticed and named until 1987 when it was spotted by Ruby Baker.
Mighty Atom - Galanthus ‘Mighty Atom’. A beautiful snowdrop with very large, rounded, bright white flowers with a bold, deep green mark on the inner segments. Its habit is short, compact, and even making an exceptional overall presentation. Originated from the garden of John Gray in Suffolk. On his death in 1950s two clumps of snowdrops were found, John Gray and Mighty Atom were removed by E B Anderson. However, in later years, it is believed that Anderson distributed a group of distinct but excellent clones, now known as the ‘Mighty Atom’ complex, under this name.
Mill House - Galanthus ‘Mill House’. Robust snowdrop with lovely green marks on the outers. A dainty snowdrop; short in stature; huge split spathe; in the rain the flower can have a tendency to touch the ground due to the extremely long pedicel.
Miss Prissy - Galanthus ‘Miss Prissy’ (d). It has an outward facing stance with green tipped petals. A floriferous form of G elwesii crossed with G nivalis flore pleno, this has very neat outward facing double flowers with very pointed outer segments with green tips and lots of green on the inners. Selected by Stephen Jackson in 2017.
Modern Art - Galanthus ‘Modern Art’. Hybrid cultivar. A lovely old cultivar with green tipped petals and a large leafy spathe. It has narrow, grey foliage and solitary, nodding, white flowers. Outer segments aremarked with green at the base and tip, and inner ones with a large green mark. One of the earliest of the green tipped G nivalis to be recognised by E B Anderson in the late 1950s.
Monostictus - Galanthus elwesii var monostictus. Given to me by galanthophile Michael Myers at his home in Pateley Bridge.
Mother Goose - Galanthus ‘Mother Goose’. Possibly a G x valentinei hybrid with some Czech origins. The rounded flower has a perfectly normal green coloured ovary and then surprises with a single inner segment mark in a rich golden glowing yellow. From John Morley’s Suffolk garden at North Green.
Mrs Macnamara - Galanthus elwesii ‘Mrs Macnamara’. Tall upright plant with elegantly shaped flowers – early flowering. Originated from Dylan Thomas’s mother in law, Mrs Macnamara.
Mrs Thompson - Galanthus ‘Mrs Thompson’. Medium height and robust. An unusual snowdrop with the ability to produce flowers with 4, 5 even 6 outer petals and sometimes have twin flowers per stem. A most showy and desirable snowdrop. It was discovered in 1950 by Mrs Thompson of Escrick, York.
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Natalie Garton - Galanthus ‘Natalie Garton’. Beautiful large flowers. Later flowering with generous flowers with a bold inner mark, classed as semi-double. Lovely rounded thick petalled flower named after the late Natalie Garton of Ramsden in Oxon who distributed it from her garden before her death in 1996.
Neill Fraser - Galanthus ‘Neill Fraser'. Hybrid cultivar. Leaves glaucous, narrow, about 1cm wide, one leaf flat, the other explicative. The inner green marking of the flower is a small thin 'splayed-out' green inverted V-shape. A selection from Patrick Neill Fraser of Murrayfield, Edinburgh.
Nerissa - Galanthus ‘Nerissa’ (d). Superb rounded, compact double flowers with heavy green markings on inner petals in late winter. One of the Greatorex doubles, perhaps even the shortest in the series. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
North Star - Galanthus ‘North Star’ (d). An early flowering vigorous double. Small triangular mid green ovaries. Similar to Lady Beatrix Stanley but flowers are more star shaped and bloom earlier.
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Octopussy - Galanthus nivalis f. pleniflorus ‘Octopussy’ (d). This pretty, petit double has long slender outer segments tipped with green. Flowers late Feb into March. Originally from Phil Cornish.
One Drop or Two - Galanthus ‘One Drop or Two’. Hybrid cultivar. A charming snowdrop where mature bulbs will throw two flowers from each pedicel. The flowers are most distinct for their dark green inner markings. Discovered in Berkshire in 1995 by snowdrop hunter Alan Street.
Ophelia - Galanthus ‘Ophelia’ (d). Beautifully rounded, tightly double flowers. Early flowering and vigorous. One of the Greatorex doubles. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
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Peg Sharples - Galanthus ‘Peg Sharples’. Leaves are slim and grey, this snowdrop is a cross probably between nivalis and elwesii. Raised in the 1960s by Peg Sharples from a seed originally from E B Anderson.
Percy Picton - Galanthus plicatus ‘Percy Picton’. A very long pedicel and an arching stem means that it is hardly ever still. Usually with two flower stems which flower together. A lovely bright green inner X marking. Named in 1999 after the father of Paul Picton of Old Court Nursery near Malvern.
Philippe Andre Meyer - Galanthus ‘Philippe André Meyer’. A plicatus hybrid and one of the best Trym-type seedlings. The well-splayed outer displays a green stripe down its length, the inners are all green. Showy and quick to increase. Not tall. Named by Mark Brown for his generous employer in France.
Polar Bear - Galanthus elwesii ‘Polar Bear’. The flowers with rounded segments are held on very short pedicels so seem to look outwards. Very late flowering. These form enormous bulbs when dormant. A Dutch selection.
Pride o' the Mill - Galanthus ‘Pride o' the Mill’. Hybrid cultivar. Early flowering, with a large dark green inner marking that fades towards the base.
Primrose Warburg - Galanthus ‘Primrose Warburg’. Hybrid cultivar. A hybrid snowdrop with yellow markings. One of the best yellow snowdrops. It was found in the garden of the late Primrose Warburg at South Hayes, Oxon and after her death named by the finders.
Priscilla Bacon - Galanthus plicatus ‘Priscilla Bacon’. Late flowering snowdrop has highly textured outers and a neat crisp V mark around the sinus and two small marks near the base of the inners. Named after Priscilla, Lady Bacon, who was an energetic plantswoman who added the snowdrops to her home at Raveningham Gardens in Norfolk.
Pusey Green Tips - Galanthus ‘Pusey Green Tips’. Tips of outer segments dipped in green. Found on the banks of the River Thames at Pusey.
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Reverend Hailstone - Galanthus ‘Reverend Hailstone’. Elwesii hybrid. A majestic and early form of elwesii from Anglesey Abbey - at its best at the end of Jan. Can be over a foot tall.
Richard Ayres - Galanthus ‘Richard Ayres’ (d). Hybrid double. A magnificent full double snowdrop with variable number of outer segments and variable markings on the inner segments. Vigorous and forms a clump quickly. Discovered in 1987 by Richard Nutt in Anglesey Abbey, Cambridge.
Rizehensis - Galanthus rizehensis. Early flowering species from northern Turkey. At best at the end of Jan. Dainty snowdrop with relatively wide matt green leaves showing a faint central strip and quite dumpy flowers topped by a pale ovary.
Robin Hood - Galanthus ‘Robin Hood’. First mentioned in 1891 by nurseryman James Allen but unlikely to be this plant today. All today's stock are very distinct with the inner flower petals with the distinct markings similar to a crossed sabre or spanner.
Rodmarton Arcturus - Galanthus ‘Rodmarton Arcturus’. Hybrid cultivar. This fine hybrid has large rounded flowers of exquisite quality. A remarkable seedling from Rodmarton in Gloucestershire.
Rosemary Burnham - Galanthus elwesii ‘Rosemary Burnham’. One of the most beautiful and reliable of the virescents. A strong green inner with striking green markings on the outers that follow the petal veins. Discovered in the 1960s in Canada.
Ruth's Double - Galanthus ‘Ruth's Double’ (d). A recent introduction with nicely neat rounded flowers. Possible yellow markings on the inner petals in a horseshoe shape. Thinner green leaves.
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S Arnott - Galanthus ‘S Arnott’. The original bulbs were sent to H J Elwes by Samuel Arnott who raised several hybrid snowdrops. Elwes called it Arnott’s seedling but the name was amended in 1951 to ‘S Arnott’. Flowers Feb-Mar.
Scharlockii - Galanthus nivalis ‘Scharlockii’. A green-tipped nivalis whose splitting spathes set it apart.
Sentinel - Galanthus ‘Sentinel’. A beautiful large snowdrop. The outer segments are particularly long and slightly ridged, and the inner segments have 2 large mid-green markings at the tip and base. Found in 1994 by Daphne Chappell at Sutton Court in Herefordshire, the former Backhouse home.
Sheds and Outhouses - Galanthus elwesii ‘Sheds and Outhouses’. Robust November-flowering snowdrop with large, rounded inner mark and distinct green markings on the outers.
Sibbertoft White - Galanthus nivalis ‘Sibbertoft White’. A delicate nivalis snowdrop that is almost completely white but the inner segments have two faint green dots either side of the sinus. Named after the Sibbertoft Manor where Lady Beatrix Stanley lived.
Snow Fox - Galanthus elwesii ‘Snow Fox’. A big bold snowdrop with broad grey/green foliage. Inner segments have 2 markings, a inverted V at the sinus and a large square blotch at the base, sometimes they join together. Outer petals have small pale green markings.
Sophie North - Galanthus plicatus ‘Sophie North’. A vigorous snowdrop to 20cm tall, with broad, grey-green leaves. The flower petals are thick-textured with outer petals of pure white. Inner petals have a very distinctive, narrow, green V mark around the petal notch. The green marking then extends across the mid and base section of the inner petal Named after the little girl who was tragically killed in the gun massacre at Dunblane.
Spindleston Surprise - Galanthus ‘Spindleston Surprise’. A strong and vigorous yellow hybrid which appears to be a cross between plicatus and nivalis Sandersii. Discovered by Ron McBeath and Jim Jermyn in Diane Aitcheson’s garden, Spindlestone, Northumberland.
Sprite - Galanthus ‘Sprite’. A good virescent with reliable bands of green along the outer veins. Originally found as a solitary plant at the Avon Bulbs nursery some years ago. It has strongly-clawed outers with several green stripes towards the apex of the outer segments, just on the curve of the petal. The green from these blurs into the green from the adjacent stripe.
Squire Burrows - Galanthus ‘Squire Burrows’. Hybrid cultivar. Supremely elegant gracilis hybrid found by Cliff Curtis at Ketton. Pointed outer segments and flicked out inners.
Starling - Galanthus ‘Starling’ (d). Quirky looking snowdrop with spiky flowers turn outwards. Flowers held on short pedicel with one looking more directly into the very green inner segments. The inner segments are well marked with green. Very long lasting to flower. Found growing at Avon Bulbs by Alan Street and reported to perhaps be a hybrid of G elwesii with G Hill Poe.
Straffan - Galanthus ‘Straffan’. Good vigorous Irish snowdrop, possibly a hybrid between G nivalis x G plicatus originating in the Crimea c1858 and one of the oldest cultivars known. :ate flowering snowdrop prolonged by the production of two flowering scapes. The marking on the inner segment is often likened to a Chinese bridge.
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The Apothecary - Galanthus ‘The Apothecary’. Hybrid cultivar. Hybrid between nivalis and a plicatus flowering just after Christmas. The flowers open widely in warmth and sunshine, displaying the tubular, inner segments beautifully. These are white with a strongly delineated, inverted, deep-green .V. shaped mark at the apex, shaped such that it looks a little like the gable end of a barn. Two explanations for the name; one is that it is it was found in, and named for, The Chelsea Physic Garden, formerly an Apothecary Garden, the second is that it was named by galanthophile Dr Ronald MacKenzie in honour of his profession.
Thorpe Perrow - Galanthus kindly donated to the garden by Lady Ropner from Thorp Perrow.
Three Leaves - Galanthus elwesii var monostictus ‘Three Leaves’. A snowdrop which consistently grows three leaves from each bulb.
Tilebarn Jamie - Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp reginae-olgae ‘Tilebarn Jamie’. The autumn snowdrop which comes out in October. Often produces two flowers per bulb short in stature. Outer segments have a prominent claw at base, white flowers with green-marked inner tepals. This snowdrops was selected in the 1980s by Peter Moore and named after his father, who ran Tilebarn Nursery.
Tiny - Galanthus nivalis ‘Tiny’. As the name suggests this is a small variety of the common snowdrop nivalis, easily distinguished by its narrow leaves and small stature. Very vigorous cultivar and flowers later.
Titania - Galanthus ‘Titania’ (d). Superb, regular flowered double. Narrow, widely splayed foliage. Named by Heyrick Greatorex (1884-1954) of Witten, Nowich in the 1950s. Many of his doubles were named after Shakespearean characters.
Treasure Island - Galanthus ‘Treasure Island’. Grey green leaves with a yellow green ovary. Found in the garden in Herefordshire of the well-known snowdrop enthusiast. Veronica Cross in an area she called Treasure Island.
Trimmer - Galanthus plicatus ‘Trimmer’. Another of the superb seedlings from the Trym stable (see Trym). This is early to flower with green marked outers that slightly reflex as they mature adding to its charm.
Trinity - Galanthus plicatus ‘Trinity’. A stunning G. plicatus form which always produces two or even three scapes from bulbs that are large enough. Standing bolt upright, the flowers have a wonderful green arch marked inner along with outer segments that are marked with what resemble a pale green scallop shell.
Trumps - Galanthus ‘Trumps’. Hybrid cultivar. Think of your bridge hand rather than the man! Early to flower with bright green heart shaped markings on the outer segment and quick to form good clumps. As the flower matures it becomes more flared and pagoda-like in shape. A stunning and vigorous hybrid first spotted in John Morley’s garden by Matt Bishop in 1999.
Trym - Galanthus plicatus ‘Trym’. The first of the pagoda shaped snowdrops and from which many seedlings have been named. All variations on the same iconic look with its heavily marked outer segments. Discovered in 1987 in Jane Gibb’s garden, Westbury on Trym, Bristol and Chris Brickell of the RHS at Wisley gave it the name when he was sent specimens for identification..
Trymlet - Galanthus plicatus ‘Trymlet’. Vigorous hybrid with plicate leaves and generous splashes of green, soon bulking up. Neat inverse poculiform growing to 15cm with green inverted U on outer segment. A dainty Trym-like plicatus hybrid from Kathleen Beddington in 1995. Named by Sue & Wol at Glen Chantry.
Trymposter - Galanthus plicatus ‘Trymposter’. This is shorter, earlier into flower and much more vigorous so probably much more rewarding. A good seedling of Trym with the typical pagoda shape and chunky inverted hearts on the outer segments. Shown at Vincent Square in Feb 2011 where it was awarded a Preliminary Commendation.
Tryzm - Galanthus ‘Tryzm’. Dainty and delicate with matt green leaves and bold marked outer segments. A self sown seedling from Avon similar to Trym.
Tubby Merlin - Galanthus ‘Tubby Merlin’. Similar to G ‘Merlin’ but slightly smaller with a pale olive-green ovary and inner segment. Tubby Merlin arose in E B Anderson's garden at Lower Slaughter in the 1960s.
Tudor Croft - Galanthus nivalis ‘Tudor Croft’. From a clump discovered in Mike Heagney’s garden at Tudor Croft in Guisborough.
Tutu - Galanthus nivalis ‘Tutu’ (d). Attractive tightly packed double snowdrop. Rounded flowers at right angles to the scape. Early to mid season
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Viridapice - Galanthus nivalis Viridapice’. A robust and easy-growing snowdrop with the outer segments heavily and bodily marked dark green. Tall with distinctive long spathe and looks like the flower has a hood. Outer markings look like they have been painted with a brush. Discovered near an old farmhouse in Northern Holland by Mr JMC Hoog in the 1910s and painted by E A Bowles in 1916.
Visage - Galanthus elwesii ‘Visage’. A large elwesii variety with similar markings to Grumpy. From Mike Heagney of Tudor Croft in Guisborough.
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Walrus - Galanthus nivalis f pleniflorus ‘Walrus’ (d). An unusual double snowdrop flower bearing long, tusk-like outer segments, with green shading that can extend to half the length or more. It was selected by Oliver Wyatt in the 1960s as a seedling at Maidwell Hall, Northants. Relatively rare and slow to propagate.
Washfield Warham - Galanthus ‘Washfield Warham’. Makes clumps of broad grey leaves above, which dangle quantities of large, well-shaped, rounded snowdrops. The latest to flower, well into March. It produces 2 flowers per bulb and increases well. From the nursery at Washfield in Hawkhurst, Kent.
Wasp - Galanthus ‘Wasp’. Hybrid cultivar. This is a vigorous small snowdrop with narrow tubular segments which on a long pedicel and swaying the wind looks like an insect. From Sutton Court, this time by Veronica Cross in 1995.
Watered Silk - Galanthus ‘Watered Silk’. A hybrid, found under a hedge at Avon Bulb. Early flowering form with variable amounts of green both inside and out.
Wendy's Gold - Galanthus ‘Wendy’s Gold’. One of the best yellow snowdrop with folded leaves and large flowers. From Wandlebury Ring, found and distributed by Bill Clarke.
White Swan - Galanthus ‘White Swan’ Ballard (d). Hybrid double. One of the Heyrick Greatorex doubles, but not as famous as the ones named after Shakespearean characters. An attractive and tall snowdrop. Outer segments are mostly white but frequently have fine pale green lines at the tips and spread out from the inners.
Wisley Magnet - Galanthus ‘Wisley Magnet’. Hybrid cultivar. This cultivar has a long pedicel like Magnet, but in this plant the pedicel projects upwards at 45° and then bends downwards. Found by the steps to Seven Acres at Wisley Gardens, Surrey in the early 1960s by C D Brickell.
Wonston Double - Galanthus nivalis f pleniflorus ‘Wonston Double’ (d)’ One of the later doubles. Very vigorous and to flower well needs moisture and regular division. Very neat inner segments beautifully arranged in tight whorls.
Woozle - Galanthus nivalis 'Woozle' (d). A double spikey with green tips. Flowers are dense and globular unlike other spikys; sometimes extra petals can grow from the ovary.
Woronowii - Galanthus woronowii. Also known as the green leaf snowdrop, Galanthus woronowii is a giant white snowdrop with green markings. Its honey scented flower heads appear as early as January. Glossy bright green leaves. This species comes from north-east Turkey, eastern Georgia and southern Russia.
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Zwanenburg - Galanthus elwesii ‘Zwanenburg’. Early flowering snowdrop. Often produces a second flower from the bulb in a pale olive green colour with inner segment marking and ovary. Flower is relatively large. It originated from the Zwanenburg nursery in Holland.