Galanthus

The name Galanthus comes from Greek γάλα, (gála, "milk") and ἄνθος (ánthos, "flower"), or snowdrop. Galanthus is a small genus of approximately 20 species of bulbous plants in the family Amaryllidaceae.

 

These are the true Snowdrops, not Snowflakes (Leucojum or Acis).​

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Galanthus come from climates that experience cold winters and long cool spring seasons, where they occur in or on the edges of mainly deciduous woodlands receiving plenty of light and moisture during their growing and flowering period then shelter from the summer heat while dormant. They flower during June and July here in South Africa which is mid winter for us. They are predominantly native to Europe, west from the Pyrennees to the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea in the east. Depending where you live in South Africa, you will need to keep them watered during their growing cycle from April until October.

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Growing Galanthus

Growing Galanthus requires a cool climate. We've been lucky enough to figure out how to grow them in the south east of Gauteng where we are based. Our first Galanthus went in the ground in 2015.

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PLANTING TIME: March or early April.

1.) We recommend growing them against a south facing wall under some deciduous trees or shrubs where they can get dappled shade and cooler temps year round.

2.) Watering in winter, and feeding with a quality fertiliser (slow release granules for us) has certainly helped to establish our bulbs and they come back every winter to flower.

3.) Any free draining garden soil would be suitable. Some compost worked into the soil will be beneficial.

4.) In pots use a mix of 50% Culterra Seedling Mix, 25% Perlite, and 25% Sakadama/Akadama/or other expanded clay medium often used by Bonsai growers.

5.) They handle frost perfectly as they have a natural anti-freeze chemical in them. Don't attempt to grow them in any part of SA that is frost free, as this will be too warm a climate for them.

6.) Plant the bulbs about 5 to 6cm deep below the soil surface.

7.) Provide them with a fairly dry summer rest, but don't let them dry out completely.

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Species, Varieties, and Hybrids

Galanthus has approximately 20 species. The most widely grown of these would be Galanthus nivalis, Galanthus plicatus, and Galanthus elwesii and their varieties or hybrids. If you do succumb there is plenty of scope as more than a thousand cultivars have been named in the last 100+ years. For various reasons many of these are no longer available. Some have simply been lost. Others have been superseded by later selections and are no longer widely grown. This is a continuing process as each year sees novelties emerging, some of which you may like, some not. But as with most things in life, ability to survive the test of time is a pretty sure sign of quality. Many of the varieties which would be in most snowdrop growers top ten have been around for many years. Below are some species and varieties we grow.

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