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Galanthus elwesii

greater snowdrop

AGM plants

AGM plants have been through a rigorous trial and assessment programme. They are:

  • Excellent for ordinary use in appropriate conditions
  • Available to buy
  • Of good constitution
  • Essentially stable in form & colour
  • Reasonably resistant to pests & diseases
© Niki Simpson 1998
RHS Plant Shop from £5.99 Sold by 26 nurseries

  • Other common names greater snowdrop
    Elwes's snowdrop

  • Synonyms Galanthus graecus

  • Family Amaryllidaceae

  • Genus Galanthus are dwarf bulbous perennials with linear or strap-shaped leaves, and solitary, often honey-scented, nodding flowers with 3 white outer tepals and 3 smaller inner ones often marked with green

  • Details G. elwesii is a perennial to 30cm, with broad, glaucous leaves and nodding, solitary white flowers in late winter, the outer segments to 2.5cm in length, inner ones flared at tip, with both basal and apical green marks that sometimes merge into one

  • Plant range Balkans, W Turkey

Characteristics

  • Foliage Deciduous

  • Habit Tufted

  • Toxicity Ingestion may cause mild stomach upset

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H5

Colour

Sunlight

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or West-facing or East-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Clay

    Clay

  • Sand

    Sand

  • Chalk

    Chalk

  • Loam

    Loam

  • MoistureWell-drained, Moist but well-drained

  • SoilClay, Sand, Chalk, Loam

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.1-0.5 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0-0.1 metre

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow in humus-rich, moist but well-drained soil that does not dry out in summer. See snowdrop cultivation for further information.

Propagation Propagate by seed, sown in containers in an open frame when ripe or division when foliage dies back. Seed may not come true

Suggested planting locations and garden types Underplanting of Roses and Shrubs Flower borders and beds Cottage & Informal Garden Rock Garden Wildflower meadow

How to care

Pruning No pruning required

Pests Can get narcissus bulb fly and slugs

Diseases May be infected by snowdrop grey mould

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Galanthus elwesii

greater snowdrop

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £5.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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