About this cultivar:
Galanthus nivalis forms nice clumps in the woodland garden. The pair of narrow glaucous green leaves are topped with 8 inch flowering stems, each ending in small, pendent, large-sepalled white bells, each tipped in green.. Galanthus nivalis was named as one of the top 200 plants of the last 200 years by the Royal Horticultural Society! If you get one snow-drop, get this one!.
- Position: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Almost any soil, grows well in Ballyrobert
- Flowers: February, March, April
- Other features: Grows well in Ballyrobert, Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit (RHS AGM)
- Hardiness: Fully hardy - grows well in Ballyrobert!
- Habit: Tufted
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Height: 10 - 20 cm (0.3 - 0.6 ft)
- Spread: 0 - 15 cm (0 - 0.5 ft)
- Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
- Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial, bulb
- Colour: Green, white
- Goes well with: Everything!
About this genus:
Galanthus (ga - lan - thus) is a genus of 19 species first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, based on the species Galanthus nivalis. Galanthus is from the Greek gala, meaning "milk", and anthos, meaning "flower", alluding to the colour of the flowers. The common epithet nivalis means "of the snow" - which reminds you of the common name, snowdrop. Native to parts of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region, some species contain galantamine, a precious compound used to treat Alzheimer's disease.
Galanthus do well in a variety of soils that are not waterlogged (like most bulbs). As for situation; even though they have reputation as shade plants you will find they do well in full sun, part shade or lots of shade. In our garden we have quite a wide range of cultivars in a wide range of places.
Galanthus blooms during winter months and is a great choice for naturalizing in meadows and lawns. We actually have quite a few in our woodlands and poking up at the front of borders (to surprise us in the winter!)
Plant combos - they usually look better on their own in little clumps or large drifts but they do pair well with other early spring bulbs such as Narcissus and Muscari. Some Galanthophiles even collect them in pots to bring to 'Snowdrop parties'.... I am not joking!