Snowdrops :: Growing Galanthus Species in the UK

'Snowdrops' or Galanthus Species are a favourite winter flower, in the UK, they are a small bulb and can be grown in pots in the garden border and even be naturalised into a lawn where the flowers add a meadow look in early spring

. With a number of cultivars and rare species for sale in the UK it is interesting to know that Cambo Estate holds a National Collection of Galanthus. With many species of Galanthus Flowers or 'Snowdrops' for sale they make an essential addition to the winter garden. Galanthus can be grown from bulb divisions or from seed.

You can buy Snowdrops 'in the green' or as dormant bulbs, growing from seed is a rather long process, however many rarer species are commonly grown this way. Specialist nurseries offer some rare and interestind Snowdrops for sale

Rare and Unusual Snowdrops

By shear price Galanthus 'Elizabeth Harrison' must be the rarest of all of the snowdrops, one bulb recently sold for over £700, a really lovely snowdrop with golden yellow ovaries. Galanthus nivalis 'Green Tear' runs a distant second at around half that price a close third is Galanthus plicatus 'E A Bowles' with its white petals all the same size and with no markings.

Other rare and interesting snow drops include Galanthus nivalis 'Grakes Gold' with yellow ovaries but perhaps not as clear as 'Elizabeth Harrison'. Galanthus plicatus 'Diggory' with outer petals that form a bulb or globe, lovely, Galanthus plicatus 'Wendy's Gold' (another yell ovary type) and Galanthus 'Mrs McNamara' are al worth seeking.

Where to grow Galanthus

Grow them in the perennial border, a woodland situation, or even in a lawn. A shaded position is best. In pots, containers or troughs in flower they can make a great display, especially those rare and hard to find species.

Dividing Snowdrops or Galanthus

Once Snowdrops stop flowering and have had some time to recover, in May usually, it is a great time to divide them, especially those ove rcrowded clumps.

Start by lifting the clump with a sturdy garden fork, or turning out the pot if pot grown. Gently break apart the bulbs, replant in small groups of 4-5. Rememb er that all bulbs like a little food, so dig in some well rotted compost and manure when replanting.

If you find that when you dig the clump that the bulbs are a little limp you might be best to replant as a clump, give them a good feed and divide next season when they are stronger.

Galanthus Species

With many species available for sale in the UK we list a few of the most common and a few rarer species :
Galanthus species include: Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus nivalis lectin, Galanthus nivalis agglutinin, Galanthus elwesii, Galanthus ikariae, Galanthus flore pleno, Galanthus plicatus, Galanthus alpinus, Galanthus andorra, Galanthus woronowii.

You can buy Galanthus or Snowdrops from the following specilaist nurseries

PENLAN PERENNIALS
Penrhiw-pâl LLANDYSUL SA44 5QH WALES, UK - Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1239 851244 (office)
Retail, Mail Order Specialists, Online Webshop, Peat Free, Organic, Aquatic, Marginal and Bog Plants, Waterlilies, Hardy Geraniums, Ferns, Grasses, Shade & Woodland Perennials. Free online catalogue.

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