Celebrate the multi-faceted Snowdrop

Highly valued by collectors and loved by gardeners, the snowdrop is the ultimate symbol of spring’s arrival. Celebrate spring in style, says Tamsin Hope Thompson

- Tamsin Hope Thompson

THERE is a fever surrounding snowdrops that more than equals the Tulipmania of the 17th century. There are more than 2,500 varieties and the rare ones are highly sought after by collectors, some reaching extortionate prices. ‘Castle Green Dragon’ which has green inner petals and shades of green on the outer petals can cost around £180 for one bulb, while some snowdrop bulbs have sold for over £1,000.

But why do snowdrops inspire such devotion? They are hardy, low maintenance flowers, which bring the first hope of spring, breaking through cold and snowy ground to cheer up winter days. Once planted, they require little effort, bringing wonderful displays year after year. Many also have a scent of honey and they naturalise well among other early bulbs. Looking at a swathe of snowdrops they may all look the same, but there is a huge amount of variation in markings and this is what collectors go crazy for.

Crimean War origins

You can find single and double snowdrops with a petticoat of petals beneath and a huge variety of green markings on the inner petals. The ones with green markings on the outer petals are called green-tipped snowdrops. There are also the yellow snowdrops which have yellow markings at the top of the flower and on the petals. It’s the tiny differences in these details that make certain snowdrops so rare.

Snowdrops are not native to the UK. It’s not known exactly when they arrived in Britain, but there are records of them in the 16th century and they became fashionable in Victorian times. The reason there are so many in Scotland is that many Scottish regiments fought in the Crimean War and brought back the bulbs to plant when they got home.

Early and late showing examples