Galanthus ‘Aunt Agnes’

A particularly charming snowdrop from the remarkable collection of Olive Mason at Dial Park, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, ‘Aunt Agnes’ is a chance seedling discovered in Olive’s garden and named by her in honour of the aunt who first introduced her to the world of snowdrops. That makes the name especially appropriate: a snowdrop that began with an aunt’s influence eventually became a named plant in the garden of the niece she inspired.

The plant is a robust grower with well-presented flowers carrying attractive green markings. It is associated with the wealth of Trym-type seedlings that appeared at Dial Park, and some specialist accounts describe ‘Aunt Agnes’ specifically as a seedling of ‘Trym’, with green marking extending onto both the inner and outer segments. This gives the flowers considerably more interest than a straightforward green-tipped Galanthus.

Olive Mason has been an important figure in modern British snowdrop cultivation. Together with her husband David, she developed Dial Park into an exceptional winter garden, with an extensive collection of Galanthus alongside hellebores, cyclamen and other plants for the darker months. Her willingness to grow, select and retain interesting seedlings has contributed a number of worthwhile plants to cultivation.

‘Aunt Agnes’ therefore has something rather more valuable than a complicated breeding pedigree: it has a genuine family story. An aunt introduced Olive to snowdrops; Olive developed one of the country’s notable private collections; and from that collection came a seedling which she named in remembrance of the person who started it all. It is difficult to think of a more fitting snowdrop name.

Cultivation: Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil in partial shade or dappled woodland conditions. Avoid prolonged summer drought and waterlogging. Allow the foliage to die back naturally after flowering. Excellent for naturalising beneath deciduous trees and shrubs.

Flowering: January–February

Hardiness: Fully hardy in the UK; approximately H5

Height: 12–15 cm

Spread: 10–15 cm

Nomenclature: Galanthus ‘Aunt Agnes’

Origin: Chance seedling found in Olive Mason’s garden at Dial Park, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire

Named by: Olive Mason, for the aunt who introduced her to snowdrops