Galanthus 'Alison Hilary'

A vigorous and particularly distinctive hybrid snowdrop, Galanthus ‘Alison Hilary’ was discovered by Joe Sharman at Sutton Court, Herefordshire, in 1996, the former home of the Backhouse family, renowned for their work with daffodils. It was named for the then owner of Sutton Court, using her maiden name. Of hybrid origin, it has subsequently become a well-regarded garden snowdrop, combining vigour with a very distinctive flower. 

The flowers are elegantly held, with slim, strongly clawed outer segments surrounding broad inner segments heavily marked with deep green. The green marking is particularly striking, forming an almost H-shaped pattern, with the colour becoming more diffuse towards the base of the inner segments. The inner segments remain relatively tubular rather than flaring widely at the tips, giving the flower a neat, somewhat architectural character. The foliage is greyish-green and strap-shaped, and the plant is notably vigorous and clump-forming. 

A snowdrop with considerably more character than its modest name might suggest, ‘Alison Hilary’ is easily recognised once familiar: strongly clawed outer segments, a rather tubular flower and that unmistakable dark-green marking make it a particularly smart and distinctive cultivar. It is also a good example of the useful garden hybrids that have emerged from chance discoveries rather than deliberate breeding programmes.

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial shade or deciduous woodland. Avoid prolonged summer drought and allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering. A vigorous clumper, it is well suited to naturalising beneath deciduous trees and shrubs or planting where its strongly marked flowers can be appreciated at close quarters.

Flowering: January–February
Hardiness: H5, approximately −15 to −10°C
Height: 10–15cm
Spread: 10–15cm