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!

[Leena]

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.

Thanks Mariette.
Here it was last week.



And how it looks inside.



Another G.plicatus seedling which turned out double. This  looks more greatorex type to me. On the left is single sister seedling.





At first EAB seemed to bulk up well, but then it disappeared, and now in another (more moist) spot it is alive, but increased very slowly.
It is difficult to know which is a right spot for any one kind. Some are more tolerant of different conditions, some seem to be very particular in their needs, and even in my garden conditions vary. I can only try them in different spots to find out which one is good.
For instance I have had 'Wendy's Gold' in three different spots and in only one it thrives and increases very well. In all others it struggles, and at first I thought it was a difficult snowdrop here, but now when I found the right spot, it is very good. I have planted now other (new) yellow plicatus close to it in hope that they also like that spot, and they seem to be fine, though not flowering yet this year.

[Leena]

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.

Villu, thank you for confirming my experiences with yellow and green snowdrops. They seem to behave differently here than in more south.
Great looking clumps of green snowdrops, congratulations!!

Here is my 'Green Tear' which is doing quite well and I am pleased with it.



'Hagen Hastdunichtgesehn', planted last summer. It seems to have a bit bigger flower, or different shape. We'll see how it adjusts here in the future.



Some more
'The Pearl'



'Green of Hearts'



'Bambino' which has now flowered more or less two months.

[Leena]

Since I last posted we had a cold spell, then two weeks of very warm and all the spring flowers were coming up all at once.
There was even a record high temperature of +19C for this time of year. Then yesterday a cold came back, last night it was -10 again. It will warm up next week hopefully.
I have covered my Trilliums, Hepatica japonicas and some yellow Helleboruses with double fleece and hope that is enough. I can't cover the whole garden.

Some pictures from last week. A lot of white spots which are snowdrops and Leucojum vernum.



'S.Arnott'





'Brenda Troyle' with Leucojum vernum

[Leena]

'Madelaine'



'Treasure Island'



'Poculi Perfect'



'Wifi Big Bang'

[Leena]

A very large 'Phil Davis' and tiny 'Midas'



A tall plicatus seedling and small yellow Estonian nivalis 'Tuuliku 8'

[ashley]

Such beautiful photos Leena and Villu.  Thank you.
Your season seems to be longer this year.

[Mariette]

Leena, I´m glad that snowdrop-time has started with You now and enjoy Your gorgeous pictures very much! The plants look so great in the generous conditions You can offer them! It´s interesting to learn about Your double seedlings - I think I noticed only one in 30 years in my garden. The double E.A.Bowles-seedling looks really special - I hope it will grow better for You than EAB! Fingers crossed that the falling temperatures will do no harm!