'Difficult' Snowdrops'

[David Lowndes]

Does anyone know if, somewhere amongst this incredible library of information, there is a thread about snowdrops that are difficult to grow?

[David Nicholson]

Have you tried the 'Search' button

[David Lowndes]

Good idea!
Just tried it but it only returned this thread.

[Maggi Young]

As you have found - there is no specific thread on this subject - there are  however numerous  comments throughout the Galtanthus pages  on certain snowdrops which seem to  present some difficulties in cultivation. Problem is that what proves and intractable plant in one garden can thrive like the proverbial weed in others- and, as in other plants, this can be manifested  in gardens only a mile or so apart, let alone in different parts of the country or world!

 The definition is clouded, I suppose, by the tendency of so many 'drop cultivars to be, to say the least, unstable or  long to establish, which adds to any question of species which are more fussy than others!

That said - there will be some which are darned awkward to grow in most places in cultivation, I suspect - and I hope the galanthophiles will not  be long in sharing theit opinions with you there on that matter.

[David Lowndes]

Yes, Maggie, they are definitely unpredictable or even, in some cases, cantankerous!
I asked because I managed to obtain G.gracilis 'Ronald Mackenzie' this year and, as she handed it over the seller said
"You know it's a devil, don't you?".
So now I'm stressing about where to plant it. Internet searches turn up a fair number of failures but not many suggestions. I bet someone on here grows it well though!

[Brian Ellis]

Yes, Maggie, they are definitely unpredictable or even, in some cases, cantankerous!
I asked because I managed to obtain G.gracilis 'Ronald Mackenzie' this year and, as she handed it over the seller said
"You know it's a devil, don't you?".
So now I'm stressing about where to plant it. Internet searches turn up a fair number of failures but not many suggestions. I bet someone on here grows it well though!

Oh you are a sucker for punishment David!  In gardens I have seen it grown reasonably well in a raised bed.  The preferred method I think is to grow it in a pot in a sand plunge in an alpine house.  The thing to remember about gracilis is that they do not like to be wet in the summer.  I do know an extremely good grower/seller who covers his gracilis in the summer that are grown in the garden eg Gracilis hybrid 'Swanton' with a flower pot to keep the rain off and this seems to be successful.  I would think the best person to help would be Blonde Ingrid as she grows a host of yellow snowdrops.

[Alan_b]

But Brian, Ingrid and I all live in the dry southeast of England where too much rain in the summer is unlikely to be a problem.  I don't seem to have problems with gracilis in general but "Ronald Mackenzie" is just a miffy snowdrop for galanthophiles who like a challenge.

[David Lowndes]

I'm in the south east too. My other gracilis, by chance, are in raised beds in places which get some sun and seem to be fine. Something similar for Ronald then? Is 'Daglingworth ' also fussy?

[Brian Ellis]

But Brian, Ingrid and I all live in the dry southeast of England where too much rain in the summer is unlikely to be a problem.  I don't seem to have problems with gracilis in general but "Ronald Mackenzie" is just a miffy snowdrop for galanthophiles who like a challenge.

I was trying to be generally helpful as we did not know where David was growing his snowdrops - unless I missed this.  It's always helpful to add it to your profile David for future reference. 

Do I take your answer to mean that you have lost 'Ronald Mackenzie' then Alan, if so it might have helped if it had been drier.

[Alan_b]

No, Brian, I am not even sure I would wish to afford "Ronald Makenzie" and have never tried to grow it. I have just heard the same sort of bad reports that David was given.

[steve owen]

If "difficult" means trying to grow a variety several times in different locations without success, I could suggest upwards of thirty varieties.

[David Lowndes]

Yes please!

[steve owen]

David
Apologies, I am in the middle of one of the more intensive periods snowdrop-wise when I review the health of each variety in the whole collection.
This issue of "difficult" snowdrops is a moveable feast; some varieties that I find problems in growing produce big healthy patches for others. The converse is probably true. So over a period of time you get into "smarter" ways of cultivating your plants to grow healthily in your location, and on your soil.
The danger to avoid, if I may say so, is becoming a sweetshop snowdropper chasing frenziedly after the latest expensive goodie. When disease or whatever leads to the said goodie turning up its toes, one can be tempted to turn to burning tenners as a replacement activity, or entering a monastery.
If you can get your hands on the Snowdrops book you will find listed many snowdrops that have been around for yonks and are reliable garden plants.  And they are cheap. Grow some of them first and meanwhile the expensive goodies will become cheaper - they always do.

[Brian Ellis]

David have you considered looking at your question the other way round as in this list?

http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=2768.msg64148#msg64148

[Maggi Young]

Aha!  Now  that's a good suggestion, Brian - lateral thinking!