Galanthus ‘Anita'

A most intriguing colour-changing hybrid from the garden of Richard Bashford, combining blue-green foliage with a flower that becomes increasingly interesting as the bulb matures. The buds emerge with a distinctive cream-coloured haze, opening to flowers whose inner markings change character with age.

On smaller, younger bulbs the inner marking is green, but as the bulbs reach maturity this develops into a much more unusual green-to-yellow colour change, giving established clumps a quite different appearance from younger plants. This is precisely the sort of subtle variation that makes a good snowdrop worth growing for several seasons rather than judging from a single flowering.

The blue-green leaves add to its appeal, providing a handsome foil to the flowers and making the plant recognisable even when not in bloom. A February-flowering selection with genuine collector interest, particularly for those who enjoy snowdrops in which the colour develops rather than remaining static.

Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage, ideally in light deciduous shade. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering.

• Hardiness: H6, approximately −20 to −15°C
• Height: 12–15 cm
• Spread: 10–15 cm
• Flowers: February
• Type: Hybrid
• Origin: Seedling from the garden of Richard Bashford