Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis ‘Alex Duguid’

A particularly early-flowering form of Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis, with a rather wonderful piece of snowdrop folklore attached to it. The plant was found by the Scottish snowdrop enthusiast Jimmy Platt and was originally circulated as ‘Mr Duguid’s Christmas Flowering Snowdrop’, before eventually becoming ‘Alex Duguid’. 

A tall, elegant snowdrop with long, narrow white outer segments, carried on comparatively tall stems. The inner segments are tipped with a clear green mark, giving the flowers a neat, restrained finish. Like other forms of the vernalis group, it is notable for its unusual flowering season, appearing around the turn of the year rather than waiting for the traditional snowdrop season.

The name is sometimes encountered as Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis ‘Alex Duguid’. This is preferable to treating it simply as G. reginae-olgae, as the vernalis forms differ in their seasonal behaviour: they flower later than typical autumn-flowering G. reginae-olgae, with the foliage developing alongside the flowers. 

An excellent choice for the collector wanting snowdrops before the snowdrop season properly begins — and one that can make the garden look slightly confused about what month it is.

Cultivation: Best grown in humus-rich, reasonably moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, with good light during its early flowering period. A sheltered position beneath deciduous trees or shrubs suits it well. Allow the foliage to mature naturally after flowering.

• Flowering: December–January, exceptionally early
• Height: c. 20–25 cm
• Spread: c. 10–15 cm, increasing into clumps
• Hardiness: H6, approximately −20 to −15°C
• Origin: Found by Jimmy Platt; originally circulated as ‘Mr Duguid’s Christmas Flowering Snowdrop’
• Nomenclature: Galanthus reginae-olgae subsp. vernalis ‘Alex Duguid’