Galanthus in the USA

[Maggi Young]

Members in the USA  often say they are  short of snowdrop /galanthus  sellers - well, judging by these photos, John Lonsdale of Edgewood Gardens  will have a good list of  bulbs for sale  later in the year!

[Alan_b]

I know very little about Cornovium Snowdrops http://www.cornoviumsnowdrops.co.uk/ but they do export to the USA and they don't seem to charge an unreasonable amount to do this.

[Maggi Young]

We've mentioned a few  sellers in the past who will export to the US - good to see John L. having a good number  for sale in Pennsylvania though - in case  exports do not continue to be available.

[Rick Goodenough]

Thanks for the post Maggie. Yes, folks here are psyched that John is putting out a list this year. The demand is high and the few suppliers that are physically here in the U.S. frequently run out of the more desirable collectables within a day or a few days of posting their lists.

We are delighted that John is throwing his good name and reputation in the ring as a new Snowdrop supplier.

Cornovium has been very appreciated by American Snowdroppers, and we hope they will continue to provide quality dormant bulbs for a good long time.

Even with John entering the market, demand will continue to vastly outweigh supply.

Here's a pint lifted to John!

[annew]

I remember seeing somewhere recently that the CITES requirement for snowdrops does not apply for hybrids whose parentage can be documented, or something like that. I must try and investigate more, unless someone already knows?

[Rick Goodenough]

I remember seeing somewhere recently that the CITES requirement for snowdrops does not apply for hybrids whose parentage can be documented, or something like that. I must try and investigate more, unless someone already knows?

All ears! A voice of reason in the midst of chaos on this topic. Hope there is depth behind that information. Keep us posted!!

Thanks,

Rick

[Brian Ellis]

That would be good Anne. 

[johnw]

Anne - If this is indeed true would you then consider possible shipments to Canada?  Furthermore if the bulbs were grown in soil-less medium in a greenhouse I reckon a phyto would also be easier to attain as the nematode/ potato wart & cysts issues would not apply nor would the necessary soil monitoring.


I am trying to get a copy of our last Colesbourne CITES certificate to see exactly what was stated on it.

A further thought, I suspect a very low percentage of G. hybrids can be authentically documented without dna testing quite unlike your controlled crosses.  So many hybrids have presumed parentages or hybridizers are unwilling to mention exactly what the crosses were.  I guess we need to peruse the relevant section of CITES.

john   

[annew]

I'm trying to find out and have emailed a contact at FERA/APHA. It is VERY difficult to find answers to this kind of thing on the CITES website.

[TCalkins]

I'm trying to find out and have emailed a contact at FERA/APHA. It is VERY difficult to find answers to this kind of thing on the CITES website.

Anne -- this may be a link to the information you recently read, not sure, as you say, this whole CITES regulatory complex is rather inscrutable.  https://cites.org/sites/default/files/notif/E-Notif-2016-064-A.pdf.  It does include a reference to hybrids being exempt from some restrictions, but only those from Article I of CITES.  However, galanthus is listed under Article II, so not clear if/how the hybridization issue pertains.  U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations seem to state that for plants listed in Article II, the permitting process is controlled by the exporting country, i.e., the U.K in this case. https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/Rare_Plants/conservation/lawsandregulations.shtml.  However, there seem to be any number of U.S. regulations about importing as well:    https://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/CITESDocumentRequirements11142007.pdf

I will see if I can get any clarification via the US. Department of Agriculture Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service on this issue  -- not that I am optimistic, I have no particular contacts there, but I did work many years in the Federal bureaucracy, with luck maybe I can wend my way to whatever the answer is on this side  - but expect it will be a slow process.  But then so is germinating a seed sometimes.

[TCalkins]

I know very little about Cornovium Snowdrops http://www.cornoviumsnowdrops.co.uk/ but they do export to the USA and they don't seem to charge an unreasonable amount to do this.

My experience as a first-time U.S buyer from Cornovium has been very positive so far -- a shipment of nice-looking dry bulbs late this summer, and although none have bloomed yet, many are nosing through, some with doubles -- and they were very accommodating with my ever-increasing additions to my original order and associated permit fee and shipping adjustments.

[annew]

The only info I've found so far refers to animal hybrids 
Any exports would have to be summer dormant - parcels to the US can take a LONG time to get there!

[johnw]

Anne  - Exporting Canada should be easier than to the USA.  We must apply for a permit which usually takes a couple of days if done online and the permit itself is faxed to us. It outlines the phyto requirements precisely and the need for a CITES certificate, the Canadian permit # must appear on all documents.  Parcels are inspected usually at the point of entry to Canada and sent on to the recipient.  Our Colesbourne shipments took anywhere from 5 days to 10 days and that was to BC most recently.


I'll let you know when I see what the CITES stated or one of the permits.


johnw

[Rick Goodenough]

As the U.S importing coordinator for Cornovium, we have seen so far a very consistent two days for the shipment to get to U.S. Customs and then another one to two days to clear and ship to me for distribution...all within less than a week's time and folks this year got bulbs in their mail box within eight to ten days of the shipment date from the UK with the dormant bulbs arriving in prime condition.

The process is rather involved as has been alluded to, but with an eye to detail, appropriate certifications and permits at both ends in hand, and a willingness to track and manage the shipment process, it can work rather seamlessly, though with a fair amount of effort and expense.

All very well worth it from the receiving end. If commercially traded bulbs could be carved out of the CITES restrictions, it would be a voice of reason in very well intended laws and regulations. It would sure be encouraging to all of us to have a more open door to more readily access named bulbs (species variants or hybrids) that are being traded in commerce.

Rick

[Leena]

so far a very consistent two days for the shipment to get to U.S. Customs and then another one to two days to clear and ship to me for distribution...all within less than a week's time and folks this year got bulbs in their mail box within eight to ten days of the shipment date from the UK with the dormant bulbs arriving in prime condition. [/quote]

That is very fast!
You would expect mail from UK to Finland be even faster, but it is the same 8 to 10 days (but if I send anything to the UK, it arrives in 3-5 days). I think it is the Finnish mail which is so slow, and they are now going to get even slower, especially to the countryside. Earlier a letter sent in Finland would be expected to arrive the next day, or the day after that at the latest, but now new legislation is giving the mail a permission to have time to deliver a letter in five days instead of earlier two.