John Sales, former head of gardens at the National Trust, recommends 12 of the snowdrops to grow in your garden. Words Mary Keen. <\/p>

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The best places to see snowdrops<\/a><\/li>
How to grow snowdrops<\/a><\/li>
How to plant snowdrops in the green<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
John thinks the reason many snowdrops get diseased, is partly because in borders they share a rich diet with other plants, which they hate. He also thinks that old narcissi<\/a> cultivars, such as the early Backhouse cultivars<\/a> \u2018Empress\u2019 and \u2018Emperor\u2019, which are often grown with snowdrops in spring displays, were carriers of viruses.<\/p>
Congested clumps are less likely when bulbs are grown naturally \u2013 left to their own devices, often in grass, for a natural look. He rarely divides his snowdrops unless they are in very tight clumps. \u201cPutting them in grass stops disease,\u201d he says firmly.<\/p>
Here are John Sales’s favourite snowdrops for naturalising.<\/p>
Here’s how to grow snowdrops<\/a><\/p>
The best snowdrops for your garden<\/h2>
Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Bess\u2019<\/h3>Snowdrops: Galanthus ‘Bess’<\/figcaption><\/figure>
An early, easy and strong snowdrop with good green markings on the inner segments. 12cm.<\/p>
More on<\/p>
Snowdrops: The best places to see snowdrops<\/a><\/li>
Irish snowdrops: which snowdrops to grow<\/a><\/li>
White magic: how to propagate snowdrops<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Lyn\u2019<\/h3> $\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus ‘Lyn’<\/figcaption><\/figure>
John admires this snowdrop for its early flowering and for the fact that his wife Lyn found this Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Atkinsii\u2019 variant locally. John is particularly attached to a plant with provenance. 20cm.<\/p>
Buy Galanthus <\/em>‘Lyn’ from Broadleigh Bulbs<\/a><\/p>
Galanthus nivalis<\/em> \u2018Anglesey Abbey\u2019<\/h3>
$\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus nivalis ‘Anglesey Abbey’<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A snowdrop much loved by John for its provenance as well as for its broad, deep-green leaves and elegant flowers. Once known as Galanthus lagodechianus<\/em>, it is now firmly identified as an unusual variant of Galanthus nivalis.<\/em> These snowdrops reproduce freely from seed. 12cm.<\/p>
Galanthus<\/em> \u2018S. Arnott\u2019<\/h3> $\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus ‘S. Arnott’<\/figcaption><\/figure>
Scented, elegant, easy to cultivate and long lived snowdrop. If you grow only one snowdrop this should be it. 30cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 4a-8b.Buy Galanthus <\/em>‘S. Arnott’ from Crocus<\/a><\/p>
Galanthus nivalis<\/em><\/h3> $\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus nivalis<\/figcaption><\/figure>
This snowdrop looks lovely everywhere, but especially in huge naturalised drifts. There are early and late-flowering versions of this beauty, which is best seen with the sun behind you.10cm. AGM. RHS H5, USDA 3a-8b.Buy Galanthus nivalis <\/em> from Crocus<\/a><\/p>
Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Dionysus\u2019<\/h3>
Arguably the best of the Greatorex doubles, early crosses (from Galanthus nivalis<\/em> f. pleniflorus<\/em> \u2018Flore Pleno\u2019 and Galanthus plicatus<\/em>). This snowdrop was crossed in the 1960s by Heyrick Greatorex, an eccentric recluse, they were welcomed with much excitement. 14cm.Buy Galanthus <\/em>‘Dionysus’ from Beth Chatto<\/a><\/p>
Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Galatea\u2019<\/h3> $\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus ‘Galatea’<\/figcaption><\/figure>
A beautiful snowdrop, with a long pedicel (but less exaggerated than Galanthus<\/em> \u2018Magnet\u2019), which increases easily. This snowdrop is an old hybrid that dates from the end of the 19th century, it clumps up well and grows undisturbed in my garden at the back of summer flowers near a yew hedge. 25cm.Buy Galanthus <\/em>‘Galatea’ from Beth Chatto<\/a><\/p>
Galanthus elwesii<\/em> \u2018Mrs Macnamara\u2019<\/h3>One of the earliest snowdrops to flower, usually in January but sometimes before Christmas. This is a tall, graceful plant with narrow, blue-green leaves. It increases quickly into large colonies. 25-30cm. RHS H5.Buy Galanthus elwesii ‘<\/em>Mrs Mcnamara’ from Beth Chatto<\/a><\/p>
Galanthus nivalis<\/em> from Prior Park<\/h3> $\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus nivalis from Prior Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>
John identified this as distinct on a routine visit to the National Trust garden in Somerset. 12cm.<\/p>
Galanthus woronowii<\/em><\/h3> $\"\"$
Snowdrops: Galanthus Woronowii<\/figcaption><\/figure>
John says these are hard to name precisely, as they can be confused with other snowdrops (ikariae and platyphyllus are often grouped under the same heading). Galanthus woronowii<\/em> comes from southern Russia and has glossy, broad-folded leaves in a bright green that are a handsome feature even without any flowers. 15cm. AGM. RHS H5.Buy Galanthus woronowii<\/em> from Crocus<\/a><\/p>
You may also like<\/strong><\/p>
Snowdrops: The best places to see snowdrops<\/a><\/li>
How to propagate snowdrops<\/a><\/li>
Margery Fish’s remarkable snowdrops at East Lambrook Manor<\/a><\/li>
A Devon garden filled with winter colour<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
Where to see snowdrops near you<\/strong><\/a><\/p>
Where to buy snowdrops<\/h2>\u2022 Avon Bulbs<\/strong>Burnt House Farm, Mid Lambrook, South Petherton, Somerset TA13 5HE. Tel 01460 242177, avonbulbs.co.uk<\/a><\/p>
\u2022 Beth Chatto<\/strong>Clacton Road, Elmstead Market, Elmstead, Colchester CO7 7DB 01206 822007 bethchatto.co.uk<\/a><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n
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