Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: snowdropman on December 12, 2006, 08:38:23 PM
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I thought that it was about time that we re-dressed the balance in the southern snowdrop hemisphere & talked about New Zealand snowdrops!
The only New Zealand cultivar that I know of for certain is the green tipped, but variable, g. elwesii 'Hughes Emerald' which was bred by the late Stan Hughes of Blue Mountain Nurseries (hitherto this has been circulating under the invalid name of g. elwesii 'Emerald', but has recently been renamed).
I understand that there is another possible New Zealand cultivar, circulating under the invalid name of g. 'Jessica', but its origins are uncertain and it may be that it is an import that has been re-named.
I was wondering if any of our New Zealand members can help with information about g. 'Jessica', or any other New Zealand cultivars?
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Here on the continent in Belgium (Europe) we grow a cultivar known as Galanthus elwesii 'Jessica' which is a green-tipped one. It is a rather recently discovered plant (1997, first sold in 1999), found by Phil Cornish. Full description is in "Snowdrops , the bilble" page 191; I saw it once and can describe/remember it as a beautiful plant, very nice shaped, with good green lines on the outers.
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Valentin
I should have said that the snowdrop circulating in New Zealand as g. 'Jessica' has no connection with the snowdrop g.elwesii 'Jessica' which Phil Cornish named after his wife.
The NZ snowdrop, with the invalid name of g. 'Jessica' is a double, with 15 inner petals.
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I've just posted a note to the Galanthus 2006 thread, under the impression that I had clicked the current one, when in the Index. So read that if interested. It's not relevant to that particular thread after all and I apologise. Not only my mind is going, but my eyesight and sense of touch as well it seems!
Nice to see you around Chris. However, as an NZ snowdrop grower I can't add anything to your questions re NZ snowdrops. I used to know Stanley Hughes many years ago and know his sons now but I have never heard of any galanthus bred by him. (Stanley and my mother used to play together as children and she, if still alive would be 99 this year, and Stanley hasn't been of this world for many years). Nor do I know any local plant as `Jessica.' These 2 mentioned are certianly not in commerce here and virtually none is ever listed by a nursery. The few we have - and nothing modern or recent - are passed around between friends. If you know someone who could supply the above 2, I'd love to hear about them. Thanks.
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Hi Lesley
Don't worry - it is definately not your mind and I don't think it is your eyesight - there was something odd going on between the Galanthus and New Zealand threads for me too. This morning I went into Galanthus and there were only 4 posts (all titled New Zealand) - then I chose 'next' and suddenly a few pages of messages appeared and they were called Galanthus - strange....
Seems to have sorted itself out now (unless my mind is going too...)
John
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Thanks for reassurance John, puts my mind (even if lost) at rest.
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If you know someone who could supply the above 2, I'd love to hear about them. Thanks.
Hi Lesley, many thanks for your response on this thread.
re g. elwesii 'Hughes Emerald' - I understand that Blue Mountain Nurseries have only built up sufficient stock to distribute, within the last few years. Earlier this year, Dennis Hughes wife Margaret told me that they now had about 100 bulbs growing in the field & that they were retailing at about NZ$10 per bulb.
re g. 'Jessica' - this one is much more of a mystery and Marion Saxton tells me that it has been shared among friends for some years under this name, but no one seems to have any idea where it originated. She wonders if it might in fact be one of the Greatorex Doubles that has been renamed by someone in NZ - if you do get one from Marion, I would be very interested to hear what you think.
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Thanks for this information. I'll trot down to Blue Mountain over the Christmas/New Year hols and see what I can find. May have to flutter my eyelashes at Denis. Margaret is a much sterner proposition!
Also will see if Marion has one to spare of the so-called `Jessica' but even if she has, there's no way I would be able to identify it accurately. Best bet would be take a photo and send it here or to Mark or someone.
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I'll post a photo of the UK's 'Jessica' later and another called if I remember right 'Jessie Jane'.
Working hard at the moment to redo the photo pages of my web site http://www.snowdropinfo.com (http://www.snowdropinfo.com) to include lots of new ones probably not seen before
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That's great news Mark. I have used your site to pick which unknown 'drops to buy! You might like to know that on my Mac when I used the Buying on the web page to access others there is a hiccup in that you get this
http://www.snowdropinfo.com/www.maynell-cottage-plants.co.uk
rather than just
http://www.maynell-cottage-plants.co.uk
which means that any technophobe has probably not used the links successfully ;)
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I'll post a photo of the UK's 'Jessica' later and another called if I remember right 'Jessie Jane'.
Hi Mark
It will be good to have photo's of both g. elwesii 'Jessica' & g. elwesii 'Jesse Jane', both of which are relatively recent Phil Cornish introductions, but as neither have any connection with the g. 'Jessica' which has been circulating in NZ for many years, and for which I am seeking the origins, can I ask that these be posted to the 'Galanthus 2006' thread, to avoid any confusion?
I am growing g. elwesii 'Hughes Emerald' & g. 'Jessica' (now in 2nd year of transition to UK seasons) - they pushed up leaves last winter, so hopefully will get flowers this winter - if I do splash out on a camera, I will try to take some pics & post to the SRGC Forum
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Hi Lesley - hope that you manage to get them both - if you do hear anything about the origins of g. 'Jessica', I would love to know.
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Here are Phils snowdrops. 'Jessica' first and then 'Jessie Jane'
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Thanks for this information. I'll trot down to Blue Mountain over the Christmas/New Year hols and see what I can find. May have to flutter my eyelashes at Denis. Margaret is a much sterner proposition!
Hi Lesley - did you flutter your eyelashes at Denis?
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No I didn't Chris. Actually forgot all about it. But now I'm reminded, I'll phone today. Thanks for the nudge.
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Good luck Lesley - I would offer to send you some, but of course they would never be allowed (back) into NZ!
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I purchased a couple of plants of Galanthus elwesii 'emerald ' from Blue Mountain Nurseries on friday.
I thought a few recent shots of a nice clump in a friends garden would show it to better effect.
Cheers Dave.
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I'm no Galanthus expert but it appears close to G. elwesii 'selborne green tips' ,(which i don't grow).
The only difference i can tell from flower pics i've seen ,is that 'emerald' appears to have more rounded ends to the 3 tips ,(one facing up --two facing down),of the green inverted v on the the inner segments.
Any comments ?.
Cheers dave.
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That is a nice meaty snowie, Toolie....if I had been naming it I'd have called it 'Poirot', for the fine moustaches!! Or maybe 'Racoon' cos it looks like a masked bandit...... perhaps I should be breeding these white things so I can have fun naming them ::)
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The problem is you guys down there have senn so few snowdrops and the variety they come in especially G. elwesii.
This is 'Selbourne Green Tips'
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So, quite distinct from 'Emerald.'
I was wondering where you were Mark, lately.
And while I didn't wish to start a new pandemic of white fever, since Dave has already done that I'll post a couple of pics from yesterday. Nothing special but if anyone has comments about ID I'd be grateful.
First, G. niv. 'Winterwood' which is a larger selection (Australian) from 'Atkinsii.' The white petals are 4cms long.
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Then a couple which may be straight, un-named nivalis
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And what I think is probably 'Atkinsii.'
[attachthumb=4]
Could pic No 3 be 'Magnet?'
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My ignorance of snowies is too great for my opinion to be worth anything , Lesley... though I do like Dave's new one.
Your whites are looking bright... must be all the rain you've had.. ;)
Really posting to remind/inform any new readers that if they click on your photos the photos will expand to give a clearer view..... 8)
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Mark thanks for posting your pic.
Gee do i need a good pair of glasses !!!.
I now see 'Selbourne green tips' and 'Emerald' are so far distinct from each other as Lesley mentioned i wonder why i ever made my earlier comment.
Cheers dave.
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Mark
What is the European equivalent of 'Emerald'? or is it available here?
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Lesley
Is there a reason that all your snowdrops appear to be grown in pots? I always grow new ones in pots to appreciate their beauty at least once, and then, if not rare and expensive, I put them in the garden.
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Mark,
I believe that this snowdrop is being grown here as Galanthus elwesii 'Hughes Emerald'.
Look back earlier in this thread for a background to the naming of the plant. Indeed, it seems that "G. 'Emerald'" is an invalid name but, as it often the situation with names, when one gains common usage, even if invalid, then it is very difficult to get the valid name into common usage.
Paddy
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As in Stanley/Denis Hughes, former owner/owner, father/son, at Blue Mountain Nurseries. In other words, this is a New Zealand selection.
Arthur, these snowdrops are in pots as are hundreds of other things for the simple reason that my garden which is far too big, is a major disaster area and I have neither time nor energy at present, let alone the filthy weather, to do much about it so at least the potted plants are better looked after. My aim of course is to have everything possible in the garden and in fact G. `Straffan' which is planted out under a maple, is doing and increasing well. There's a very long journey between the good intention and the action unfortunately. My mother used to tell me the road to hell was paved with good intentions. I'm probably well on the way.
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But Lesley,
Think of all the good company you will have on that road paved with good intentions. And, again, I imagine the company in hell would be very interesting also. Might even be many keen gardeners there.
Paddy
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Arthur, these snowdrops are in pots as are hundreds of other things for the simple reason that my garden which is far too big, is a major disaster area and I have neither time nor energy at present, let alone the filthy weather, to do much about it so at least the potted plants are better looked after. My aim of course is to have everything possible in the garden and in fact G. `Straffan' which is planted out under a maple, is doing and increasing well. There's a very long journey between the good intention and the action unfortunately. My mother used to tell me the road to hell was paved with good intentions. I'm probably well on the way.
Lesley
I recognise your problems. Since my return from holiday in Iran early May, I have not managed to get on top of the weeds at the bottom of the garden - my wild garden with nettles especially for the butterflies. After I finish the never-ending re-potting, I must make the effort to tidy before the winter - of course the Olympics will not help, and the football season is about to start.
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G. `Straffan' which is planted out under a maple, is doing and increasing well.
This is one Galanthus that has consistently petered out for me. The very last bulb was mush when de-potted yesterday; no sign of disease above ground last Spring. Yet all the books says it is an increaser. Ditto Robin Hood.
Anyone else?
johnw
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Well of course my 'Straffan' may be wrongly named. I bought it 3 years ago from a tiny plant stall at a market. I had a pic somewhere last year and when it's going properly I'll do another as well so Mark or someone can tell me it's wrong. Besides, take any 6 snowdrops and they all look the same to me. :o 8) ;D
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I purchased a couple of plants of Galanthus elwesii 'emerald ' from Blue Mountain Nurseries on friday.
Dave - as Paddy mentioned, g. elwesii 'Emerald' is an invalid name, having previously been used for a now extinct snowdrop cultivar.
When I pointed this out to Blue Mountain Nurseries, back in June 2006, they readily agreed to my suggestion that this snowdrop should be renamed g. elwesii 'Hughes Emerald', in honour of the late Stan Hughes who had originally selected it.
I have been growing it, and circulating it, under this new name since that time.
If it is still being sold under the old invalid name by Blue Mountain Nurseries, this can only be due to an oversight & I will see what can be done in order to get the plant labels corrected.
In the meantime can I suggest that you might amend your own plant label, as I am keen to do what I can to try to stop this snowdrop continuing to be circulated under two different names.
The green markings on the outer petals of the snowdrop can be a little variable and some people have reported little or no colour on the outer petals - I suspect however that, like g. elwesii 'Big Boy', the bulbs take a year or two to settle down before the dark green markings show at their best - this has certainly been my experience.
Altogether, a very attractive snowdrop, with good sized flowers, strong dark green markings and nice sized leaves and I rate it quite highly.
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John,
Just caught your posting re G. 'Straffan'. As you said, it is generally described as a good grower and this is how I have found it here in my garden where it has increased to a very large drift of up to 200 bulbs, I imagine. Not that such information is of any great use to you unfortunately and I am at a loss as what might have caused the demise of your bulbs. Such a pity as it is a very nice snowdrop. Irish, of course, so what would you expect!
Paddy