gardens

plant focus: snowdrops
WHERE TO SEE & BUY
Colesbourne Park, Glos GL53 9NP.
Tel: +44 (0)1242 870262.
www.colesbournegardens.org.uk
Easton Manor Walled Gardens,
Grantham, Lincs NG33 5AP.
Tel: + 44 (0)1476 530063.
www.eastonwalledgardens.co.uk
Lambrook Manor Gardens,
South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HH.
Tel: +44 (0)1460 240328.
www.eastlambrook.co.uk
Painswick Rococo Gardens,
Painswick, Glos GL6 6TH.
Tel: +44 (0)1452 813204.
www.rococogarden.co.uk
Rodmarton Manor, Rodmarton,
Cirencester GL7 6PF. Tel: +44 (0)1285
841253. www.rodmarton-manor.co.uk
Welford Park, Welford, Newbury,
Berkshire RG20 8HU. Tel: +44 (0)1488
608691. www.welfordpark.co.uk
Specialist nurseries
Avon Bulbs Tel: +44 (0)1460
242177. www.avonbulbs.co.uk
Broadleigh Bulbs Tel: +44 (0)1823
285231. www.broadleighbulbs.co.uk
The Snowdrop Company
Specialist/collector snowdrops. Send
a S.A.E. with three first-class stamps for
a catalogue to: Barn Cottage, Shilton,
Oxfordshire OX18 4AB.
variable inner green markings’.
G. elwesii showers Colesbourne
Park with prolific large blooms, with
an inherent vigorous propensity to
naturalise. It’s named for Henry John
Elwes, who discovered this species
on a trip to Turkey in 1874. Recently
Carolyn Elwes has developed his
original snowdrop collection on the
estate, finding many new varieties.
Other notable giants include
G. plicatus ‘Colossus’, a vigorous
early flowering Colesbourne find
(G. ‘Colesborne’ is named after the
now famous snowdrop garden);
and G. ‘Atkinsii’, with pearl-dropearring-like
blooms, prolific in the
Painswick Rococo Gardens. G. ‘S.
Arnott’ is a classic snowdrop, not
strictly large, but substantial and
recognised as a ‘first-class garden
plant’ by expert John Grimshaw.
86 the english garden February 2013
CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP
LEFT Galanthus
‘Greenfinch’;
G. elwesii ‘Mary
Biddulph’ was
discovered at
Rodmarton
Manor; the more
unusual G. plicatus
‘South Hayes’.
Snowdrops’ unique markings are their most
exciting distinguishing factors
At the other end of the scale are
green-tipped G. nivalis ‘Elfin’, a mere
7.5cm tall, and G. nivalis ‘Tiny’,
both miniature by comparison.
BOLD MARKINGS
Snowdrops are botanically
differentiated by their foliage type,
which can be categorised simply as
flat, plicate and convolute, but their
unique markings are their most
exciting distinguishing factors.
Noteworthy are those that exude
personality and character.
The inner markings of single
G. elwesii ‘Grumpy’ portrays
just such a face, while double
G. ‘Richard Ayres’ wears the mask
of a moustachioed gentleman and
can be found in tall clumps at
Anglesey Abbey Gardens, where it
was discovered in 1987.
A REAL
COLLECTORS’
GEM
Popular are snowdrops with less
defined but larger green markings.
G. x hybridus ‘Merlin’ has unbroken
solid green inner segments and
‘dumpy’ rounded or globular outer
petals held on a long straight stem.
G. elwesii ‘Mary Biddulph’ has
a pale lime wash covering most of
the outer petals, and a bolder
verdant staining on the inners. This
eponymous gem was discovered by
Margaret Biddulph’s grandson
Simon at Rodmarton Manor, in the
gardens this lady created there.
‘Green Tear’ has similar, but more
refined markings, and G. plicatus
‘Greenfinch’ and ‘South Hayes’ also
have notable marked flowers.
With so much detail and variety
on offer within this genus, it is no
wonder that people dedicate their
lives to growing these gems.