Galanthus suggestions for S. California
Tom Mitchell (Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:07:57 PST)

Apologies if these suggestions have already been made - I haven't read the entire thread.

I think that the autumn-flowering G. peshmenii would work very well. It grows near sea level in a small region of the eastern Mediterranean, with hot dry summers and some winter rainfall. It is amazingly cold hardy in the UK but resents too much water during the dormant season and does better for me in a pot. In fact the best Galanthus for a pot with me.

Easier to obtain would be G. reginae-olgae subs. vernalis, some forms of which occur in similar habitat, though with much more winter rainfall.

A third possibility, from a similar habitat, would be G. cilicicus from lowish altitudes in the Taurus Mountains. This is a rare plant in cultivation (and in the wild) however. My few young plants were grown from seed and have not yet flowered.

Finally, G. rizehensis occurs near sea level along the SE shores of the Black Sea. Again much more rainfall than S California but worth a try.

Tom