Snowdrops in the English garden

Snowdrops in the English garden

You may not be a dedicated galanthophile, but you can still join them in appreciation of snowdrops stunning and very hardy little beauties in the English garden

Snowdrops pierce the frozen earth religiously each winter bringing us the promise of spring. This small bulbous plant is determinedly hardy long-lived and resistant to disease. Refusing to be spoiled by Britain's frequently bad winter weather it is both prolific and deservedly popular in the English gardens.

Snowdrops appearance is anticipated but not its diversity. There are around 20 species snowdrops native to Europe, Asia Minor and the Near East, which thrive in deciduous woodland in mountainous situations. Here, in the English gardens, they are able to withstand the cold in winter and are protected from higher
temperatures in summer.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed the introduction of many of these species into Britain which has resulted in numerous cultivars and clones.

Snowdrop species Galanthus ekvesiiy G, reginae-olgaey G. pUcatusi, G. gracilis and G. woronowii, among
other joined our widespread resident snowdrop Galanthus nivalis, or common snowdrop, which dates back to the 16th century.

G. nivalis is almost single-handedly responsible for the drifts of single or double snowdrops (G. nivalis f. pleniflorus cHore Pleno') that have naturalised England's deciduous woodland glades and gardens.

G. nivalis is characterised by a small green inverted 'u' or 'v' marking on the tip of the inner petal. It is best in numbers and can be relied upon to naturalise,  increasing by off-setting bulbils or by slowly setting seed. The finest example of a G. nivalis woodland is at Welford Park in Gloucestershire where drifts of dazzling snowdrops blooms stretch out beneath a canopy of brassy beech.

Today, there are more than 500 named snowdrop cultivars, many of British provenance, that have been discovered in the English gardens of galanthophile snowdrop collectors, where this promiscuous plant has made merry with other collected snowdrop specimens.

Interestingly and almost uniquely, through the passion of collectors the snowdrop has promoted itself,
producing exciting new introductions nature's way, rather than through determined breeding programs. This
affords us with snowdrops for every situation from select individual collections to mass plantings of
naturalised snowdrops drifts.

SNOWDROPS SIZE & SCENT

Mature snowdrops vary in size, but the elwesii varieties seem to produce larger flowers on longer stems.
Ursula Cholmeley of Easton Walled Gardens in Grantham favours G. elwesii var. elwesiitFred's Giant',
described as: 'An enormous (for a snowdrop) and robust bulb with glaucous foliage, which flowers early
and has beautiful big flowers with 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 English gardenestate, 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-drop-earring-like blooms, prolific in the Painswick Rococo English Gardens. G. 'S.Arnott' is a classic snowdrop, not
strictly large, but substantial and recognised as a 'first-class English garden plant' by expert John Grimshaw.



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.

SNOWDROPS 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 English Gardens, where it was discovered in 1987.

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 English 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 snowdrops in their English gardens.

GARDEN CULTIVATION TIPS

• For best results buy and plant snowdrops 'In the green' just after the flower has faded but before the leaves die back.
• If purchasing a rarer specimen, buy in flower to guarantee its identity.
• 'Site snowdrops where there is plenty of light early in the season, but is protected from baking sun in high summer,'says Ursula Cholmeley of Easton Walled Gardens. The best place for snowdrops is under deciduous trees. Where they are naturalised, they seem to appreciate a free-draining soil.'Add sharp sand
or grit prior to planting on clay to improve drainage.
• 'It helps if the sun can reach the soil surface when the ground is frosted,' says Simon Biddulph of Rodmarton Manor. 'Plant somewhere where they will not be trodden on in summer.'
• When planting a collection, labelling is vital,' Simon also advises her garden tips on grow snowdrops.

GARDEN TIPS FOR BULBS IN SITU

Expert Ursula Choimeley gives her garden tips:

• You can lift resident bulbs any time, provided they are replanted immediately. The key is not to let them dry out. The best time to do this is as the foliage dies back, up until the roots start to grow again in autumn.
• Old clumps of snowdrops may become so congested that you see bulbs lying around on the surface,'evicted' from the clump. You need to dig the whole lot up, split the bulbs and replant.




PHOTOGRAPHS CLIVE NICHOLS I WORDS JACKY HOBBS