Galanthus in February 2025

[Mariette]

That´s a really interesting combination, John! Would You say the outers are marked more yellowish or more greenish?

Leena, Your double seedling of ´E.A. Bowles´ looks unique! Congratulations! My EAB was exceedingly slow to bulk, but after two very wet years it doubled. Perhaps I should try it in a less dry spot of my garden. Till now, I thought it would dislike my heavy clay.
Recently, I found a Blonde Inge - type of Galanthus elwesii var monostictus amongst potted snowdrops in a local flower shop.

[Maggi Young]

I just want to put this one here as well. A Blonde Inge type virescent nivalis. A yellow virescent, if you will. Actually, not a virescent anymore, is it?
A seedling from my own breeding. The mother is Blonde Inge. Late flowering.

Hello John, great to see you here once more!

[Stefan B.]

Galanthus platyphyllus

[John Aipassa]

That´s a really interesting combination, John! Would You say the outers are marked more yellowish or more greenish?

The outers have soft yellow stripes, Mariette.

[John Aipassa]

Hello John, great to see you here once more!

Thank you Maggi

[Villu]

I can second to Leena about the Nordic condition on green and yellow snowdrop behavior.
In my experience cold and long winters contribute to stronger yellows and weaker green colours. Very low temperatures towards the end of the winter can cause even green and ordinary snowdrops turn to yellow. In those years, leaves can be partly yellow as well, not turning to green.

Later emerging and blooming can contribute also to fading green colour as sun is much brighter in March and April even here up north. This is normal blooming time for snowdrops in Estonia and Finland. Good examples are 'Rosemary Burnham' and 'Cowhouse Green' which show more pronounced green hues while opening but soon fading to near white.

This winter was mild and some of the earlier snowdrops started to bloom in the end of January which is very early for us. Yellows are paler this year and green ones bit stronger in colour.

This is how some of my green varieties looked today.


Galanthus 'Green Tear'


Galanthus 'Cowhouse Green'


Galanthus 'Green Mile' - the strongest green in my garden


Galanthus elwesii 'Rosemary Burnham'


Galanthus nivalis 'Virescens'   

[Mariette]

Thank You for Your interesting observations, Villu! They confirm the assumption that yellow and green marks are influenced by the strength of sunlight. Also in my more southern garden, snowdrops appear to be "yellow" when buried by rodents or moles deeper in the ground than they used to be. If forced to reach the sunlight with difficulties, leaves, receptacles and marks tend to be yellow, but turn green, either soon or next year. This seemed to be the case with some potted snowdrops offered recently - probably somebody tried to make use of bulbs which could not be sold last year and potted them somewhat too late.

An impressing collection of green snowdrops, by the way!

[Mariette]

The outers have soft yellow stripes, Mariette.

Thank You, John! Congratulations on having achieved a very desirable feature!