Galanthus nivalis 'Flore pleno'
John Grimshaw (Tue, 06 May 2008 22:30:22 PDT)

It's fascinating to read about members' experiences with the common double
snowdrop. This is an extremely interesting plant: the oldest known snowdrop
cultivar (first recorded 1703); male fertile, female infertile; incredibly
vigorous; prone to variation, and a damn good garden plant, even if
galanthophiles are snooty about it.

In the UK it is a fast-multiplying plant, soon forming fat clumps whose
uppermost bulbs become detached and become scattered, effectively spreading
it around. There are whole woodlands full of it and no other snowdrop -
remarkable for a plant that cannot set seed.

In poor soil, however, it can multiply to the point where it becomes too
congested & starved to flower, and will need to be replanted deeper. I think
that this is important. Snowdrops are greedy feeders, and need good
nourishment and ample moisture during their growing season (AUGUST to May!)
to keep them at their best. They should not die down too soon, so deep
planting helps keep their roots where the soil remains moist longest.
Shading by other plants also has a detrimental effect on leaf-longevity, and
hence bulb size and next year's flowering.

The Greatorex Doubles, hybrids of G. plicatus pollinated by 'Flore Pleno'
are, as Jim McKenney pointed out, apt to become very congested and produce
few flowers. Again, they like good fertile conditions to do well.

I shall be spending the day marking hundreds of clumps of snowdrops for
lifting once they're dormant, and probably moving a few around. The bulbs
are now mature enough to withstand the move without any loss of flower
quality next year, but the whole operation is so much easier if they're left
a few weeks longer and you can deal with a nice dry clump.

John Grimshaw

Dr John M. Grimshaw
Sycamore Cottage
Colesbourne
Nr Cheltenham
Gloucestershire GL53 9NP

Tel. 01242 870567