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calling all galanthophiles - is this a 'normal' snowdrop?

BlueBirderBlueBirder Posts: 212
in Plants
Hello all, 

I'd like to pick your brains about a snowdrop in my garden. I've never seen one with the petals reflexed like this. Can you tell me - is this 'normal' for Galanthus nivalis or is it a different cultivar? If so, what characteristics do I need to look at to find out which one? 

Thank you! 
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Posts

  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    Not common .
    But yes some do do that.

    Last week I saw Galanthus Wind Turbine which was very different.



    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • BlueBirderBlueBirder Posts: 212
    @Silver surfer interesting! Thanks for sharing those pics of 'Wind Turbine'. 

    I didn't know that there were so many cultivars until recently...

    I've ended up with a few odd ones in with what I'm pretty sure are just standard G. nivalis. This is the other one - maybe something like Flore Pleno? 
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    BlueBirder said:

    I didn't know that there were so many cultivars until recently...


    https://ngs.org.uk/spotting-snowdrop-species-2/

     Quote  from link above...

    "The National Garden Scheme’s Snowdrop Festival gives you the opportunity to enjoy such stunning spectacles, but also to look out for some of the more unusual species. With the number of named snowdrops now estimated to be in the thousands, there is plenty to see!"
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I think your snowdrop is G flore pleno a double.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I could be G flore pleno but there are several doubles two of which I have in the garden. My flore pleno isn't open yet so can't compare at the moment but in a week or so I'll be able to. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited February 2023
    @Uff I hadn't realised that there are different doubles but it makes alot of sense as the new forms come from crossing and seed. Perhaps a double form is the corrct ID. We need some Galanthophiles to take a look, I can imagine that they like to have a deep conversation regarding correct ID's. Many years ago I did know someone who could look at a snowdrop and promptly ID it. Amazing there was I thinking it was just a snowdrop!
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    edited February 2023
    GardenerSuze said:
    @Uff I hadn't realised that there are different doubles but it makes alot of sense as the new forms come from crossing and seed. Perhaps a double form is the corrct ID. We need some Galanthophiles to take a look, 



    See also above post.

    Doubles do not spread by seed so the green part on the top is small...called the ovary.
    Single snowdrops do produce seed so have a fatter green part.
    See pics below showing them side by side to compare.
    Hope this helps.

    Many named snowdrops  now have yellow ovary's and yellow markings and cost a fortune.
    https://www.google.com/search?q=galanthus+yellow+ovary&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiN9ZqCjI39AhWPkicCHd9-CCgQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=galanthus+yellow+ovary&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDoHCAAQgAQQGDoFCAAQgAQ6BggAEAgQHlDmB1i5RWCweWgBcAB4AIABcogBvRKSAQQyMi40mAEAoAEBqgELZ3dzLXdpei1pbWfAAQE&sclient=img&ei=l1fnY83NC4-lnsEP3_2hwAI&bih=595&biw=1280&client=firefox-b-d


    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
  • UffUff Posts: 3,199
    I think I'm going to have a to stop reading snowdrop threads. Without fail I see some that I want your last three a case in point @Silver surfer. All of them are lovely. 
    SW SCOTLAND but born in Derbyshire
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Maybe I'm strange but I really don't like the double snowdrops, they look bulky and ugly to me. I like the small graceful wild type. Of course in my garden I have a ton of particularly ugly doubles.
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