Galanthus elwesii

For many gardeners snowdrops herald the end of winter. They're extraordinarily hardy, and can be relied on to flower very early in the season. The colder and gloomier the weather, the longer the blooms last, but in a sunny warm spring they are comparatively fleeting.

Galanthus elwesii is named after H.J. Elwes, an English plant collector who found the original plants in Turkey. Unlike other snowdrops, the leaves of Galanthus elwesii neatly fold inside the other. The flowers have two green spots on the inner petals, which sometimes fuse together.

For best results grow Galanthus elwesii in heavy soil in partial shade. Divide clumps after flowering and plant 'in the green' rather than as bare bulbs in autumn.