Galanthus ‘Autumn Beauty’

A particularly intriguing early-flowering hybrid raised by Cambridge Alpines in 2009, and one of the snowdrops that rather cheerfully ignores the conventional flowering calendar. Its autumn flowering strongly suggests the influence of Galanthus reginae-olgae, while the substantial flowers and other characteristics point towards G. elwesii var. monostictus. It is therefore probably a hybrid of G. reginae-olgae × G. elwesii var. monostictus, although this parentage does not appear to have been formally published.

The result is a particularly interesting combination: the autumn-flowering tendency of reginae-olgae with the larger, more substantial floral character associated with elwesii. It is a valuable plant for extending the Galanthus season backwards, flowering when most snowdrops are still several months away from appearing.

‘Autumn Beauty’ is best treated as a hybrid rather than being assigned to either parent species. Grow in humus-rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, preferably where its unusually early flowers can be appreciated against the autumn garden. Allow the foliage to mature naturally after flowering.

• Flowering: October–November, sometimes extending into early winter
• Height: c. 15–20 cm
• Spread: c. 10–15 cm, increasing with age
• Hardiness: H6, approximately −20 to −15°C
• Type: Autumn-flowering hybrid
• Raised: Cambridge Alpines, 2009
• Probable parentage: Galanthus reginae-olgae × G. elwesii var. monostictus
• Parentage: Probable, not formally published
• Nomenclature: Galanthus ‘Autumn Beauty’