Galanthus in November 2013

[Roma]

My first Galanthus corcyrensis of the year

[Alan_b]

I've always known these snowdrops as reginae-olgae, I think.  I get a bit confused by some of these older snowdrop names; can somebody explain origin of the name "corcyrensis"?

[Martin Baxendale]

Corcyra (latinised into the name corcyrensis) is the ancient Greek name for Corfu. where so-called G. corcyrensis was originally found. G. corcyrensis was originally the name given to an autumn flowering reginae-olgae type snowdrop with quite a large inner mark and well developed leaves at flowering time and eventually came to be used as the catch-all name for any autumn flowering reginae-olgae type snowdrop with leaves at flowering time, as opposed to reginae-olgae itself which was said to always flower without leaves - until it became clear that length of leaf at flowering time was variable throughout the distribution of reginae-olgae and wasn't a reliable morphological distinguishing feature.

[Roma]

This snowdrop was growing at the Cruickshank Botanic Garden when I started work there in 1977.  It increases well by division and seed.  I must get there some time when it is in flower to photograph the big drift of it.  There it grows in a south facing bed with good drainage.  In my garden the original planting is at the back of the house and gets little or no sun all the time it is above ground.  When I split up some clumps earlier this year I planted some in the front garden with more sun and better drainage.  I had forgotten till I saw the flower among the birch leaves.  Flowering time varies but is usually from early November and can go on till late January depending on weather.  I think this is the same snowdrop Rod Begbie  -  Galanthus.co.uk  -  says he got from the late Dr Noel Pritchard, former Curator of the CBG who got it from Primrose Warburg.   I am no Galanthus expert.  I grow a few of the common species and a few cultivars but have no interest in acquiring a large collection.

[Alan_b]

Thank you very much for that explanation, Martin.  My experience of G. reginae-olgae (/corcyrensis) is based mostly on an example of the species bought as three bulbs from Avon Bulbs well over a decade ago.  I find:

It is reluctant to flower in the less-sunny areas of my garden or if grown outdoors in a pot.
In any one location it usually prospers for a few years then fades away or disappears (so I have never managed a 'big drift').

[Hagen Engelmann]

I also have big drifts only in a few small pots .

[Paddy Tobin]

G. reginae olgae 'Sofia' in flower today.

[Hagen Engelmann]

SOFIA is also blooming here. Good plant!!!

[Anthony Darby]

Thanks for that about corcyrensis Martin. I didn't see it on my one and only trip to Corfu. My pot didn't flower last autumn (it flowered the previous two), but I had plenty of leaves.

[WimB]

Some Galanthus in flower here now:

Galanthus peshmenii
and Galanthus cilicicus

[MR GRUMPY]

Nice plants Wim,Do you grow G.cilicicus outside in the garden or protected in a alpine house/Cold frame?
  Any Eranthis up yet?

[WimB]

Nice plants Wim,Do you grow G.cilicicus outside in the garden or protected in a alpine house/Cold frame?
  Any Eranthis up yet?

Thanks Steve, I grow it outdoors and it survived last winter without any problems!
No Eranthis....yet 

[Gerard Oud]

I do have Barnes, Santa Claus, Hollis and ro Maria flowering over here and a few sprouts from others. Will try to post pics when i have time to make them. I do leave home when its dark and i arrive home when its dark. I do hope for some good weather this weekend!

[Pauli]

Galanthus reginae olgae is just starting to flower here.
I only have that late flowering, but very robust type - perhaps somebody has an early flowering type for exchange next year----

[Gerard Oud]

Made these in the breaktime!

nr 1 Hollis
nr 2 Maria almost eaten!
nr 3 Barnes
nr 4 Santa Claus a bit early this year