Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
Bulbs => Galanthus => Topic started by: johnw on January 29, 2009, 02:01:29 PM
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From the forumists comments it appears that Galanthus nivalis does better in eastern North America, even spreading like mad, while G.elwesii is happier on the west coast. Perhaps we in Nova Scotia should focus more on G. nivalis.
Perhaps it's time for a poll.
Giving a range of types, if possible, which five or ten named nivalis would you consider to be not only tops but prolific multipliers and of excellent long-term health.
johnw - where it snowed 5-7cm overnight, rained heavily, gale force winds and now facing a pile of slop that is due to freeze in a few hours.
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Of the nivalis cvs I grow the most vigorous are
Scharlockii
viridapice
Pusey Green Tips
Lady Elphinstone
But there are nivalis hybrids as well and then the list gets long :)
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As Jo says
Scharlockii
Viridapice
I'd bet no-one bothers buying these two when they see it.
Who doesnt grow these two?
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Me-yet!
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and why not? They really are great snowdrops.
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Does anyone not have Galanthus nivalis in the garden
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As Jo says
Scharlockii
Viridapice
I'd bet no-one bothers buying these two when they see it.
Who doesnt grow these two?
I think these are incredible snowdrops. If they had been discovered recently people would be paying hundreds of pounds for them on ebay. Because they are good vigorous snowdrops and have been around for a long time so supplies are plentiful, they are frequently overlooked.
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and why not? They really are great snowdrops.
Because you lot have only recently persuaded me that I should grow more Snowdrops than I do now:-
My present collection consists of:-
A few nivalis that have been in the garden for quite a few years, somewhat neglected, and never seem to bulk up and are about to be moved to a better location.
Some elwesii that Arthur kindly sent me last year, some very early ones and some later-I have posted pics of these.
One Lady Beatrix Stanley that I think Arthur sent me though I didn't keep a full record.
A couple of Lady E that Anne Wright kindly sent me a couple of years ago that are just poking above the gravel.
A small pot of ikariae I bought from a garden cenre this week and haven't planted out yet.
A couple of Hippolyta that Sue Gill kindly sent me in 2006, that didn't like it in my greenhouse, and were not to impressed with my bulb bed last year. Just poking through the gravel now.
A couple of named varieties I bought from a plant fair last February and can't for the life of me remember (a) what they were called, and, (b) where I planted them! The search goes on.****
Well, we've all got to start somewhere ;D
*** Later edit: after searching the Forum, I found I bought Tubby Merlin from an NCCPRG Plant Sale (from Monksilver's stand) in Totnes last February
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David,you have a lot more than me, my collection consists of one clump of S, Arnott, one clump of Elwesii that I bought in the market last spring, and one bulb of Wendy's Gold that I lost a few years ago but reappeared last year in the middle of a dwarf Rhododendron. But I have great expectations.
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We should form a group Michael-The Galanthotots ;D
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We should form a group Michael-The Galanthotots ;D
Now that sounds as though jelly and cake might be involved.... that more my kind of group. ;D
I have Galanthus Sharlockii........somewhere. :-X
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Viridapice and Warei do very well with me
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Flore Pleno does well even here. It multiplies, even in areas
that get no summer water.
I'm sure it must be growing all over the Maritimes, but if not,
John, I can send you some.
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As Jo says
scharlockii
viridapice
I'd bet no-one bothers buying these two when they see it.
Who doesn't grow these two?
I have huge clumps of the latter, but lost the former to slugs a couple of years ago. Not got round to replacing it yet.
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Flore Pleno does well even here. It multiplies, even in areas
that get no summer water.
I'm sure it must be growing all over the Maritimes, but if not,
John, I can send you some.
Yes Diane it does very well here and is commonly available in garden centres. Get them early though before they dry out on the shelves.
Thanks fior the offer.
johnw
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From the forumists comments it appears that Galanthus nivalis does better in eastern North America, even spreading like mad, while G.elwesii is happier on the west coast. Perhaps we in Nova Scotia should focus more on G. nivalis.
johnw - where it snowed 5-7cm overnight, rained heavily, gale force winds and now facing a pile of slop that is due to freeze in a few hours.
John, far to the south of you, here in Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, Galanthus elwesii and G. nivalis both thrive. Galanthus elwesii seeds prolifically. Galanthus nivalis goes through the motions of forming seed, but the soft green capsules evidently don't contain viable seed.
Galanthus nivalis clumps thickly; the crowded bulbs soon get pushed to the surface, and in the summer when they are dormant get moved around by animals and perhaps water. I seem to have two forms of Galanthus nivalis, and in the several decades they have grown here I've never noticed seedlings.
Each of these is presumably an old clonal nursery selection. One is shorter than the other with proportionately smaller flowers.
I have not noticed much if any difference in the vigor or longevity of the dozen or so other snowdrops I grow. The one very odd exception has been some bulbs of the old 'Ophelia' which took ten or fifteen years to settle down and bloom. Now they are dividing and blooming freely (although the flowers do not always open properly), and I have no idea why they took so long to settle down.
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Jim - Very informative. You seem to have the best of both worlds there.
It would be interesting to know how far south both species will grow. Would you think you are close to the southern limit for Galanthus nivalis? I saw Galanthus near Raleigh, NC but can't recall which one.
johnw
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Me-yet!
I nearly missed a trick. David, why not have a Sunday visit out to North Devon. My garden is open this one and next one and I can dig you some of each up ;D ;D
( Shouldn't miss a chance to promote the NGS ::) ::))
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I'm coming too! ;D
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Does anyone not have Galanthus nivalis in the garden
me :-[ ::)
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Me-yet!
I nearly missed a trick. David, why not have a Sunday visit out to North Devon. My garden is open this one and next one and I can dig you some of each up ;D ;D
( Shouldn't miss a chance to promote the NGS ::) ::))
I would love to see your garden Jo but we have things arranged for next Sunday and the Sunday after that it's my birthday and both kids are coming home. This usually means we go somewhere disgustingly expensive for lunch and I finish up paying! Some other time perhaps?
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I'm coming too! ;D
I think Mark and I will leave my place to look after itself and join your birthday party.... if you're paying ;D ;D ;D
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Jo, I am a Yorkshireman!!!!
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Does anyone not have Galanthus nivalis in the garden
me :-[ ::)
Would you like some? :)