Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Plant Identification => Plant Identification Questions and Answers => Topic started by: Stephen Vella on August 20, 2009, 10:02:36 AM

Title: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 20, 2009, 10:02:36 AM
Does anyone know the names of these 2? Ive seem to have lost the tags.

The first one is a couple of inches taller than the second one.
thanks
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: mark smyth on August 20, 2009, 10:51:49 AM
The first one is Lady Beatrix Stanley
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 20, 2009, 12:59:23 PM
Thanks Mark, that name rings a bell...now just one to go

Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Paul T on August 20, 2009, 01:10:41 PM
Stephen,

Could your second one be G. nivalis flore plena?  It looks like it might be a bit more diminutive than the other one?  The problem we have here in Aus is that I think a number of things are sold as flore plena when they are in fact other double cultivars.  I "think" that flore plena has markings similar to the second pic.... maybe someone reading this can confirm or deny that?  The markings don't look right for 'Lavinia' or 'Ophelia' and I can't remember what 'Titania' looks like.  The greatorex doubles are a bit of a mess anyway.  ;D  But I think yours looks like it has more of the smaller scale of flore plena?
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 20, 2009, 01:22:56 PM

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your thoughts,
the second one is much smaller than the first. The leaves are more upright. Im sure it came with a cultivar name, it originated from Rachel Howel in Tasmania, could have been an import as she was in the business of doing so or it came from either Marcus or Otto. Waiting to hear from Otto..you out there??
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Martin Baxendale on August 20, 2009, 02:18:14 PM
I'm reluctant to try naming with doubles without any clues, but it does look very much like 'Barbara's Double', which is a very neat little double, and quite small. Does the name ring any bells?
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Martin Baxendale on August 20, 2009, 02:19:57 PM
Here's a link to a good pic of 'Barbara's Double' on a German website:

http://www.galanthus-online.de/seiten/kultivare-a-d/barbaras-double.html
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 20, 2009, 09:07:33 PM
What is generally grown as G. n. flore pleno here has a less formal, rather ragged appearance, like a snowdrop with a bad hair day.
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 20, 2009, 10:55:01 PM
Yes Martin and Lesley it does look neat and is such a little thing. Barbra's Double?? dont know, never heard of the name but it does look like the pic.

Martin what sort of clues would you need to identyfy a double, size of flower, leaves?

How many double cultivars are out there?

Might just have to ask Marcus if this one is in the country.

Thanks
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Martin Baxendale on August 21, 2009, 12:04:44 AM
As Lesley says, the ordinary double nivalis is a very raggedy, uneven, rather messy thing, nothing like what you have there. Identifying doubles is difficult as many are very similar. But 'Barbara's Double' is quite distinctive - a very neat and regular, shapely flower and decidedly short and small compared to most of the other hybrid nivalis-plicatus doubles. It was named by E.A. Bowles for Lady Barbara Buchanan, the daughter of Lady Beatrix Stanley, after whom your other snowdrop, ID-ed by Mark, is named. 'Barbara's Double' has been around a very long time and may well have found its way to your part of the world.
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Paul T on August 21, 2009, 03:44:45 AM
Lesley et al,

I just thought that the irregular nature of my flore-plena was my less than ideal conditions.  I didn't realise it was a "feature" of it.  I very much like Stephen's plant, as I like the form and diminutive size of it.  If we work out what it is I will definitely try to source it somewhere.  Good luck finding out what it is, Stephen.  8)
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 21, 2009, 09:58:53 AM
I just heard from Marcus and it is 'Barbras double'.  :)

Thanks Martin for the information and the site. You sure do know your Galanthus.

cheers
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: mark smyth on August 21, 2009, 10:15:46 AM
I didnt realise to now that I have a photo of the inside of Barbaras Double
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Paul T on August 21, 2009, 10:32:00 AM
It really is a cracker.  Must ask Marcus if he has any available this summer.  8)
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 22, 2009, 01:43:08 AM
Go to the back of the queue Paul. Already asked him. :D
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Paul T on August 22, 2009, 03:03:10 AM
well fine, if you've taken all his stock then I won't bother.  :P

  ;D ;)
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 22, 2009, 10:09:32 AM
Paul if you would like a bulb of Barbras double I will be digging up the clump??

Here's another, a double yellow. Marcus has this as well. It stands at 10cm, so cute! and the flowers are a real treat. It seems to have more vigor than Barbaras double :)
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: mark smyth on August 22, 2009, 10:37:45 AM
Is it Lady Elphinstone or a selection from Australia?
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Martin Baxendale on August 22, 2009, 11:10:16 AM
Look after the 'Barbara's Double'. It's a very special little snowdrop. I think it's quite possibly the best of the nivalis-plicatus hybrid doubles.
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Paul T on August 22, 2009, 11:16:10 AM
Stephen,

I would be very interested in a bulb of Barbra's Double.  It looks like a cracker of a plant.

The double yellow looks fascinating.  It doesn't appear to be as regularly arranged as Mark's pics of LE, but I've never managed to be successful with it here so I have no first hand experience.  My first yellow to ever flower is currently in full bud (Spindlestone Surprise), which will be a first viewing of a yellow in person for me. For some reason I have always struggled with the yellows, never even managing to flower a new bulb (the buds abort and the leaves end up distorted), so this one is a particular triumph.  Thanks so much Otto!!  ;D  So do you think your yellow isn't Lady Elphinstone, Stephen?  Do you have that as well?
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 22, 2009, 01:27:12 PM
Yes I agree Martin, Barbaras double is a very special snow drop and especially after hearing from Marcus that it was one that I imported from a stall at the time when we went to Alpines 2001, where a few of us Aussies went, including Otto and Fermi. I brought back a few Galanthus cultivars that Marcus quarantined and I just forgot.

Paul and Mark, the pic of the double yellow I know is Lady Elphinstone(the pic is labeled). I thought Paul would be interested in it since we are talking doubles. Im sure Marcus imported this one from the U.K. Nice pic Mark thanks.

Paul Its not like I have treated Lady Elphistone with any special care, although Galanthus seems to like my garden, great soil and great climate. I will pm u about Barbra's double

cheers
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Otto Fauser on August 23, 2009, 02:53:42 AM
Stephen , just came across your 2 Gal. queries , I only have the common niv. fl.pl. with the
untidy centre -see pic I took this morning - a bulb of 'Barbra'sDouble ' would be a wonderful
 Christmas present?
 G. niv. ' Lady Elphinstone ' has been in Australia at least 20 odd years , it was imported
 by that wonderful gardener (now in heaven) Essie Huxley in Tasmania.
  Mark has already put the right name on your G. 'Lady Beatrix Stanley' , this one and
 'Lavinia' were the first doubles I imported 40 years ago from the english Bulb nursery
 of Colonel Mars . Does anyone know if it still operates ?
        Otto.
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Lesley Cox on August 23, 2009, 09:41:49 PM
Col. Mars of Haslemere in Surrey? No, alas, he is no longer with us. Or rather his nursery isn't, not for many years. I'd not be surprised to learn that he too, was gone, perhaps to meet with Essie.H. I used to import from him too Otto, mainly Cyclamen as I recall but he had some wonderful things. Oh for the days when there was no "Permitted" list. I remember I had to deal with Customs, not Ag and Forestry (Fish, as it was then)

Paul, I'm only asking Marcus for 1 Barbara's Double. He has listed Lady Elphinstone in the past and I hope he may have a bulb to spare of that for me too.
Title: Re: 2 unknown double Galanthus
Post by: Stephen Vella on August 24, 2009, 03:18:48 AM
Hi Otto,

Yes you can have Barbra Double for Christmas and I hope I get some bulbs for Christmas too ;) ;) ;)

Yes Essie did have some amazing looking plants.

Thanks for the pic and the info.

I'll pm you
Cheers

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