Top 10 Superstar Snowdrops

Ten of the best

I am a fully paid-up member of Snowdrops Anonymous because I have a large collection of named plants collected over the past 30 years. They are a mixed blessing because while they brighten up the winter, they are also a constant source of anxiety! Some have a death wish and will die out again and again in a short time. Others are slow-growing and can take up to 10 years for a single bulb to triple in size due to lack of vigor. Many look very similar, so a lost label is a disaster. Fortunately, there are unique snowdrops that come back year after year and make good clusters in many gardens and conditions. The RHS Bulb Expert Panel has awarded AGMs or Garden Merit Awards to about a dozen or so of the best. If they grow well, lots of bulbs will come up for sale, which will drive down the price, so the cheaper snowdrops

How to care for these beautiful flowers and the varieties that deserve a place in your garden are often the best

1. G. elwesii ‘Godfrey Owen’ AGM

This six-petalled single produces flowers that openblike Tiffany lamps.

2. G. elwesii ‘Mrs Macnamara’ AGM

Guaranteed to flower by Christmas, this single-flowered snowdrop is upright and bold.

3. ‘Lady Beatrix Stanley’ AGM

A double snowdrop with a dainty green necklace of markings around the neat inners

4. G. plicatus ‘E.A. Bowles’ AGM

A late snowdrop with tall flowers that have six outer petals and no inners. Just like a lightbulb.

5. ‘Ophelia’

Snowdrops with Shakespearean or classical names are Greatorex doubles – that is, varieties developed in the middle of the 20th century by breeder Heyrick Greatorex. These G. plicatus and G. nivalis hybrids are tall with neat tutus marked in dark green

6. ‘Trumps’ AGM

Pixie-hat shaped flowers marked in green, and thisis the most vigorous of its type. Makes big clumps

7. G. plicatus ‘Diggory’ AGM

Huge, flat-bottomed flowers shaped like decanters, with noticeably puckered petals. ‘Augustus’ and ‘Amy Doncaster’ are also worth growing

8. ‘Spindlestone Surprise’ AGM

Yellow-marked snowdrops gleam in brighter positions and this one, which is thought to be the same as ‘Primrose Warburg’, was collected in Northumberland.

9. ‘Green Tear’

This is the best green snowdrop of all, with green inners and outers. It’s pricier than the others.

10. ‘Walrus’

Spiky snowdrops with lots of narrow petals can be tricky to grow, but this one isn’t.ave to be.

Comments

10 Red Flowers for Big, Bold Color in Your Garden

Red flowers are a great way to draw attention Add a variety of eye-catching red flowers to your garden, and you’ll be delighted with the gorgeous color they add to your landscape. Red flowers are a great way to draw attention to a garden. Planting all red flowers can practically stop traffic! Red flowers, especially red roses, symbolize love, but scarlet flowers can symbolize strength, family bonds, good luck, protection, and prosperity, so adding this bold hue can bring many good things to your garden beyond beauty. A bouquet of freshly cut red flowers will brighten up a kitchen table or master bedroom nightstand in a way that no other color of flower can. Red flowers pair beautifully with orange, yellow, and white flowers. Read on to learn about some of our favorites to add to your garden. We’ve got everything you need to know to grow them and add color to your landscape. 1. Zinnia One of the best annual cut flowers, zinnias bloom in a wide range of colors. They don’t min...

7 houseplants feature bold textures

Maximal Houseplants for a Lush Indoor Jungle Maximalists embrace a diverse collection, lots of color and texture, and a sense of whimsy. The right houseplants can be key to completing a maximalist look. Think tall plants with big, dramatic leaves and twining vines that can climb a shelf or climb out of a container. There’s more to a maximalist look than a minimalist, so leave the single statement plant to the minimalists and Swedish Death Cleaners and opt for the following multi-stemmed plants to elevate your decor. 1. Monstera Monstera (Monstera deliciosa) has been starring in Instagram’s indoor jungles for years. The large, spiky leaves on a mature plant almost exude a maximalist vibe. Train this climbing plant to grow as a mossy pillar or, for more drama, up a wall or banister. It can grow up to 15 feet tall indoors. In its native Mexico or anywhere in hardiness zone 10 and above, the monstera can grow up to 60 feet tall. Surrounding it are smaller plants with a va...

5 Houseplants to Bring Good Luck to Your Home

Discover the meaning behind them, plus care tips to help them thrive Did you know that you can up your expressive game with lucky houseplants? Some houseplants have historically been considered lucky in different cultures and practices, which is why many people continue to choose them for their homes. Just like the lucky plants you grow in your yard, different houseplants symbolize different things and can be used in different ways to apply their meanings. For example, feng shui plants are used to bring positive energy to interiors and can be placed in specific areas of the home to reap their benefits. Here, we take a look at the houseplants that are considered the luckiest and why this happens. Plus, a plant expert shares tips on growing them successfully 1. Chinese Money Plant You can easily grow a Chinese money plant. They are sun-loving houseplants with succulent, round leaves that resemble coins. In Chinese culture, these plants are associated with wealth and prosperi...

Smart Garden

Search This Blog