Galanthus: A Flower Carpet for the Early Spring Backyard


At present we’re in Margot Navarre’s backyard in Washington State, the place snowdrops are doing their annual late winter–early spring show. These basic bulbs bloom sooner than absolutely anything else. Furthermore, they’re straightforward to develop and resistant to break by deer, squirrels, and most different pests.

close up of classic Galanthus flowersThe commonest of the 20 species of snowdrops is Galanthus nivalis (Zones 3–7). I’ve many G. nivalis together with G. elwesii (Zones 4–7) in my backyard.

close up of Rosemarie Burnham snowdropsI’ve bought just a few particular sorts of snowdrops all through the years. Pictured is ‘Rosemarie Burnham’, a fantastic type with green-tinted petals.

snowdrops growing around the base of a treeLocation for snowdrops is essential to allow them to considered regardless of their small measurement. I prefer to plant the bulbs within the woodlands alongside the perimeters of the paths.

a small clump of snowdrops next to a larger swatch of epimedium foliageRight here they’re rising on the perimeters of the trail subsequent to clumps of epimedium. The epimedium will be sure that this website is inexperienced and full lengthy after the snowdrops have pale.

drifts of snowdrops planted on a slopeI’m impressed by the snowdrop drifts in English gardens, however I’ve an extended strategy to go to determine the snowdrop snowstorm. When clumps get massive, I dig and divide when the snowdrops have completed blooming however whereas they nonetheless have their inexperienced leaves. That is the very best time to divide snowdrops and is known as digging them “within the inexperienced.” I add flags to mark the locations I wish to dig and plant them.

close up of small yellow flowersSnowdrops pair properly with winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis, Zones 4–9) and Cyclamen hederifolium (Zones 4–9), as proven on this image. In addition they look good in mixtures with Cyclamen coum (Zones 6–8), hellebores (Helleborus hybrids, Zones 4–9), primroses (Primula species and hybrids), and ferns. I additionally prefer to develop them beneath deciduous timber akin to Japanese maple (Acer palmatum, Zones 5–9) and our native vine maple (Acer circinatum, Zones 5–9).

close up of singular Primrose Warburg snowdropThis snowdrop is known as ‘Primrose Warburg’ and is noteworthy as a result of the bottom of the flower is yellow fairly than the standard inexperienced. I bought this uncommon one in 2015 from Mr. Lynn at Temple Nursery, New York. I put the particular ones near the home so I can watch them develop.

 

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